Natalie Jacobson explores Meiji-era Kyoto in her debut novel.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Natalie Jacobson about her debut novel, ghost trainThe story takes place in Kyoto during the Meiji Restoration in 1877. The story follows a samurai daughter, Hosokawamaru, who lays down her sword in support of the new emperor. Since her father works outside of Kyoto, Maru must hide her identity and work at a teahouse run by a stern geisha.

fans general, vice president tokyoand readers lady luck Author: Chloe Gong, Dark and shallow lies Author: Ginny Miles Thain and She is an unforgettable person By Trang Thanh Tran You’re going to love the story Jacobson posted last month.

What was the inspiration for Ghost Train?

As early as 2010, Jacobson began to consider writing a novel set in Japan at the end of the 19th century. At the time, she was studying Japanese culture and history in college and was fascinated by how folklore was so often integrated into everyday life.

“I’m particularly interested in the Meiji era and how technological changes affected the psyches of people who lived through that era,” she said. “We often hear the voices of emperors and samurai, but I wanted to explore the experiences of ordinary citizens.”

Inspired by real historical events and monster myths, ghost train Captures the essence of life in Kyoto some 150 years ago, when Kyoto was undergoing dramatic changes, including Japan’s Westernization and technological revolution. Maru’s journey highlights how fragile civil rights were during Japan’s transformation under Emperor Meiji. Back then, people had to confront authority figures to protect their livelihoods.

During the summer festival in Kyoto, ghosts begin to appear in front of Maru. She begins to question the integrity of her friends, colleagues, and even her father, who vows that he will return from an important work trip at this point.

In her search for the truth, she gets some answers from a mysterious talking fox who needs help fighting a powerful demon that is terrorizing Kyoto. As more ghosts appear, the young women begin to disappear. Fear gripped the city. Maru must contend with a web of rumors, including the disturbing rumor that the Emperor’s revolutionary new train runs on blood.

Jacobson cites numerous documents to accurately recreate the experiences of ordinary people of the era. She first delved into Japanese literature from the Edo and Meiji periods, scouring references from researchers such as Amy Stanley. Stranger in the General’s Cityand consulted Japanese historians. She approaches this assignment like a reporter. So this process is a long one.

“After the draft was completed, I spent two years refining the story, cross-referencing and making sure all the details were accurate,” she told me.

Cultural exploration of that period

OchayaA teahouse is a place run by a woman, a geisha, or geisha, who entertains paying guests through storytelling, conversation, and musical performances. exist ghost trainIn “The Tea House,” the teahouse setting serves as an important narrative device, allowing the protagonist to learn about contrasting perspectives, dark rumors, and horror stories about recent changes in society, while hiding her true identity from her clients and colleagues.

“The difference between a geisha and a geisha is mainly dialect,” explains Jacobson. “Geiko and maiko originated in Kyoto. As teahouses expanded to other parts of northern Japan, geiko became geisha, but maiko remained the same.

Today, there are many misconceptions about geisha and geisha outside of Japan, many of which stem from World War II and the media’s blurring of the lines between teahouse workers and sex workers. In the story, the head geisha expresses her frustration at having her profession mixed with sex workers, e.g. Oiran (high-end prostitute). Not only did Ochaya exist in a completely different area than the brothels of the time, but its workers were generally prohibited from participating in sex work.

Jacobson intentionally moved away from the stereotypes of geisha and samurai by avoiding the use of clichéd words like “honor” and “respect.” This choice was made to show that they were normal, complex individuals, whatever their profession, with their own beliefs and reactions to the changes that occurred during this period.

At the time of writing, Jacobson was also fascinated by the balance between Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan. She believes the overlap between the two makes the country unique, even though many Japanese do not consider themselves religious.

She was also fascinated by the tension surrounding the temporary ban on Buddhism during the Meiji era, which made her want to explore the psychological impact of the period, how nationalist sentiments were generated domestically, and how the relationship between tradition and modernity began to shift. develop.

Of course, the book is also filled with ghosts and Japanese folklore. Jacobson said her favorite yokai from Japanese folklore is the Shirime, a harmless spirit that likes to scare people with its bizarre anatomy and then run away laughing.

She believes that the scariest soul encountered in the real world is any kind of coolis a vengeful soul, usually a woman, a soul that has been wronged during life. Yure Explore inside ghost train. Oiwa is an example of a Yin spirit, who slit her own throat after being painfully disfigured by her unfaithful husband and then continued to haunt him for the rest of his life.

The future of Maru stories

Jacobson’s storytelling is so vividly visual that it’s easy to imagine adapting it into a film or TV series ghost train. She hopes to one day see the story adapted into an animated film, and envisions the product as incorporating cinderella and Princess Mononoke. Before that happens, she hopes to see the novel translated into Japanese.

The book should appeal to a wide audience. This is a great introduction for newcomers to Japanese history, while also providing depth for those familiar with Japanese culture. There is an extensive glossary at the end of the book explaining Japanese terms that are difficult to translate into English.

“I hope this book will encourage readers to continue exploring more works by Japanese writers,” she said.

Jacobson said two sequels to the story have already been written, so hopefully readers won’t have to wait too long until the next part of the story is released.

Jacobson’s trip to Japan

Jacobson’s own journey to Japan began when she participated in a Japan exchange program between Waseda University and the University of Oregon. Another interesting connection to Japan is that she is best friends with Nicholas Edwards (aka NYK), a Japanese pop star with whom she has been in the media Have cooperated. The connection really deepened her “interest in Japanese culture,” she said.

Since leaving Japan, Natalie has been thinking about a story she learned in college about phantom motorcycle folklore..

“I witnessed Japan’s transformation from 2010 to 2016, during which time social media started to boom,” she said. “When I returned to the United States, events such as the election of Donald Trump and Brexit made me reflect on the psychological impact of social change and the collective response we have to respond to these major events.”

Jacobson’s experience in Japan was special to her and gave her the opportunity to immerse herself in the culture and community. “I hope other visitors to Japan will take every opportunity to explore, meet new people and make the most of their time in Japan,” she said.

Jacobson hopes readers will find ghost train Inspiring enough to read more books set in Japan and seek to learn more about Japanese history and culture.

The novel explores how misinformation, rumor, and fear create ghost stories and serve as coming-of-age stories against the backdrop of social unrest. It’s perfect for fans of historical fiction, dark fantasy and folk horror, and lovers of the paranormal.

Where to buy ghost trains

ghost train Now available in Japan Kinokuniya and Amazonand can be requested at your favorite international bookstore. For more information about Jacobson and to learn about her work, visit her website or follow her Instagram.