Soseki Museum, London

Soseki Museum, 80b The Chase, Clapham, London, SW4 0NG, England

Private terraced house now converted into a museum which is devoted to Soseki Natsume, one of the distinguished Japanese novelists, who lived here from 1900 to 1902. Natsume Soseki was born in Tokyo in 1867, the year before the Meiji restoration, and died in 1916. He was educated at the Tokyo Imperial University where he studied English literature. In 1900 he was sent to England as a Government Scholar. He returned to Japan in 1903 and suceeded Lafcadio Hearn as lecturer in English literature at the Imperial University. The 1905 publication of Wagahai-wa Neko-de aru (I am a Cat) made him famous overnight. In 1907 he became a full-time writer. Kokoro, written in his later years, is recognized as one of his most important books. Soseki was among the first writers to be influenced by Western culture. Today, his novels still enjoy immense popularity in Japan, and contemporary Japanese writers continue to be affected by his work.

Mr. Tsunematsu is the manager of the museum and translator of Soseki's books and says "People will hopefully have a better understanding of Japanese culture through the museum".