いつも思うのだが、日本の松江に行くのと、アイルランドのトラモアに行くのとでは不思議と同じ旅情感覚がする。
日本海や汽水湖の宍道湖に面した湖都・松江。対してケルト海と共に歴史を築いてきたアイルランド・トラモア。
町の規模や雰囲気も実にしっくりそっくりである。おまけに魚はどちらも旨い。
思えば近年、ここ松江とアイルランド・トラモアの関係は極めて深く大きくなった。
私事恐縮であるが、私の家族の家はコークにある。
トラモアの行政管轄にあたるウォーターフォード県が至近でコーク県とのヒトの往来も活発だ。両都市を結ぶ中距離バスの着席率も極めて高い。
だからよくウォーターフォードにはなんやかんや足を運ぶのだ。
ただ、このトラモアという町を気にかけることはほとんどなく、トラモアの交通標識を見るたびに「なんかオファリー県のタラモアと綴りが似通っているなー」などど、呑気に構えていた。タラモアとはご存知の通りアイリッシュウイスキーで有名な「タラモア・デュー」のタラモアのことだ。
ところが、このトラモアに「小泉八雲庭園ができる」という噂話を聞きつけてから、あれよあれよと、その存在感は増してきた。
昨年は、「オープン・マインド・オブ・パトリック・ラフカディオ・ハーン―帰郷」事業で松江から訪問団がトラモアを含む小泉八雲アイルランドゆかりの地を訪問、両国における友好事業の象徴となった。
くしくも本年、「小泉八雲庭園」の責任者、アグネス・エイルワードさんが夫でアイルランド政府関係者のショーンさんとともに初来日。
東京のセントパトリックスデーパレードを筆頭に松江・京都と日本を満喫されている。
日本のアイルランド・松江。今日は小泉八雲が愛した島根県松江市、ウォ―ターフォード県トラモア市・両都市友好の絆を祝い、2016アイルランドフェスティバルのファイナルリポートとしたい。
Beautiful Little Ireland in Japan
Matsue is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture, in Southwest Japan. Known as the “City of Water”, Matsue stands by the Sea of Japan where Lake Shinji and Nakaumi meet, in the middle of Shimane Peninsula.A former feudal stronghold, Matsue is a true castle town crossed with many canals and boasts one of the twelve remaining original castles in Japan. Famous for its beautiful sunsets over Lake Shinji, Matsue also prides itself on having been the adopted home of the writer Lafcadio Hearn, who became one of the first Westerners to take Japanese citizenship under the name of Koizumi Yakumo.As an International City of Culture and Tourism, Matsue offers great sightseeing opportunities and welcomes international tourists with significant discounts. Matsue and its surrounding areas are rich in cultural assets and historical sites, and many of Japan's most ancient legends are set in the area.
Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) was an open-minded writer and world-traveller born in Greece and raised in Ireland. He settled in New Orleans from 1877 to 1887 before immigrating to Japan in 1890. The same year, he settled in Matsue as an English teacher. Though he only stayed here for fifteen months, he introduced Matsue and Japan to the Western world through his famous writings. His Former Residence and Memorial Museum are a must-see when you visit Matsue. Hearn is commemorated in various ways throughout Matsue, including monuments, literature study groups, and an annual speech contest. See Matsue Culture section to find out more about Lafcadio Hearn and his ghost stories related to Matsue.
Lafcadio Hearn was one the first Westerners to be granted Japanese citizenship and is best known in Japan under the name Koizumi Yakumo. He took the family name of his wife, Koizumi Setsu, the daughter of a samurai whom he met in Matsue. He took Yakumo (“infinite clouds”) as his first name because of its connection to the Izumo region and Matsue, which he referred to as "the Chief City of the Province of the Gods". He came back to visit the city many times after he moved to other parts of Japan.
Lafcadio Hearn was one the first Westerners to be granted Japanese citizenship and is best known in Japan under the name Koizumi Yakumo. He took the family name of his wife, Koizumi Setsu, the daughter of a samurai whom he met in Matsue. He took Yakumo (“infinite clouds”) as his first name because of its connection to the Izumo region and Matsue, which he referred to as "the Chief City of the Province of the Gods". He came back to visit the city many times after he moved to other parts of Japan.
Meanwhile, in Tramore,Home of Lafcadio Hearn Gardens
Photo Special Thanks ©Daniel O'Neill Photography
