About the book (from Goodreads):
The 15 essays collected here examine the inner spiritual life of Japan through the people that make Japan the unique place it is. The word “Kokoro” itself can be translated as “heart,” “spirit” or “inner meaning,” and that’s exactly what this title can teach us about Japan.
About Lafcadio Hearn (from Wikipedia):
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (1850 – 26 September 1904) , known also by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo (小泉 八雲?), was an international writer, known best for his books about Japan, especially his collections of Japanese legends and ghost stories, such as Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things.