Natalie Jacobsen is an
award-winning journalist and writer based in Washington, D.C. She is originally
from Oregon and lived for six years in Japan, where she wrote and photographed
for magazines, television and music studios.
Natalie is the author of Ghost
Train, a novel based on true events. The story is set in the summer of 1877
in Kyoto, during the last Samurai Rebellion.
Julia: What inspired you to write Ghost Train? What is the book about?
Natalie: I studied Japanese history and media
in college, and became enraptured by the amount of folklore that was born from
the Meiji Era. With the influx of introduced technologies and Western ideals,
Japanese society was turned upside-down; and folklore was often used to explain
the unexplainable. One of the most interesting mysteries was around trains
themselves – “ghost trains” were a real concept in 1877 Japan. Train conductors
would work long hours, driving trains into the night in desolate areas. When
they were sleep-deprived, they were prone to seeing hallucinations; often which
took the shape of phantom trains (similar phenomenon have been recorded among
long-distance semi-truck drivers). But my book asks: what if those ghosts were
real? What are the repercussions? Where did they come from? And what do these
ghosts want?
It’s also a metaphor: how does society react when there is a new invention
or import of another cultural concept? How does it affect our identity? Do we
mourn and grieve what was, or do we embrace the future? The story touches on
many existential concepts, portrayed through each of the characters who are
living through and witnessing these rapid changes to their own country.
Julia: What kind of research did you do to write it?
Natalie: So much! I had a great deal of background in the context of Japanese history
and firsthand experience in Japan; I was constantly taking photos and able to
comb through those to make sure I was describing places correctly and even
conveying the light at the time of day accurately. But there’s more to writing
historical fiction than knowing an overview of history. I needed to really
understand the myriads of perspectives that would’ve been held during that time
– between different classes, sexes, regions, professions, and educational
background. And since I didn’t embody each of those perspectives, I needed to
do research.
I read nearly 3000 firsthand accounts, documents of recorded history, and
essays on the time period. I interviewed a dozen historians and subject matter
experts to understand nuances of the time period and civilian life, and get
details on particular niche areas that weren’t widely shared – like astrology
that geisha would’ve known and advised clients on, types of kimono prints
between different classes, and even architectural differences between Shinto
and Buddhist shrines and temples. The research was half the fun!
Julia: What sets your book apart from
others in the genre?
Natalie: The thing about Ghost Train is it has a touch of almost every genre
under the sun, save for Romance. First and foremost, it’s a historical fiction.
The amount of research that went into it compares to a student writing a
thesis, or educators compiling an academic book, or a journalist doing a
long-form investigative report. But Ghost Train also includes the
supernatural and paranormal – things you don’t normally see in a Historical
Fiction.
I tied in ghosts and demons into an otherwise grounded historical fiction
primarily because of how Japanese perceive and talk about folklore in their own
culture: in many instances, these stories are sometimes seen as fact, not as
fiction. Yes, demons can be pranksters and silly, and ghosts are considered
unprovable entities. Yet, in Japan, they’re seen as synonymous with life, so I
wanted to genuinely write about them as if they were real – and that’s not
something normally included in a true historical fiction.
Julia: How does the book connect with your life? Did
any personal experiences influence your writing?
Natalie: Surprisingly, there are a number of parallels between 1877 and 2024. We are
living in a technology and information age, with globalization spurring so much
change every day. Each day we grapple with new information and combat
misinformation, we deal with connection and conflict, and progress and hurdles
that hinder us toward it. We just experienced the global pandemic from the
COVID-19 outbreak, and in 1877, Japan was dealing with a number of cholera
outbreaks after Europeans arrived in droves to help install their new
technologies. The amount of information Japanese were receiving and processing
on a daily basis was immense; it was stripping down their culture and reshaping
it for a modern era.
In some
ways today we could relate to their struggles, shock, and situations from 1877,
and, there are a lot of emotions we would share, both individually and
collectively, as a result. We all have different perceptions on what’s
happening around us, and react differently. In 1877, people were no different.
People were apprehensive or welcoming, skeptical or afraid, curious and
excited. It’s just like us today, when something new is introduced or
challenged, so I harnessed my own emotional experiences and wove them into this
story, imagining what a civilian would’ve seen and felt during that tumultuous
time.
Julia: What is the main purpose of the book? Is there something else that you
would like to share?
Natalie: The story was intended to examine the process of progress; who does it
affect, and what are the societal, philosophical, and emotional conflicts that
come with it? It’s neither an argument for or against progress; it’s more of an
examination and snapshot of what one civilian’s life might have been like
during such a rapidly-advancing time for Japan. Many cultures and countries can
relate to the upheavals, so the story is also meant to demonstrate how
connected we all are, and how similar we can be when we experience changes.
Humans are not so different from one another, even if we speak different
languages or live halfway around the world.
Julia: What kinds of books do you enjoy
reading? Did they have any influence in your writing?
Natalie: Unsurprisingly, I love reading historical fiction. I love reading to learn.
The first books that influenced that love were the Little House on the
Prairie series, which many will say felt long in some parts and included
details about how to make furniture or cure meat. Growing up, that was
fascinating. It made learning history so much more interesting when I could
follow a character and immerse in their world, so I wanted to capture that
magic and impart some teachings to my own readers.
Ghost Train was released in October. You can learn more about Natalie Jacobsen and her background by visiting her website:
