Books | The World of Translators Oct 17, 2020

Motoyuki Shibata is always ready to listen to writers’ voices

The founder of the literary magazine Monkey says a translator’s first priority should be to honor the pleasure of reading.

Books / Reviews Oct 3, 2020

Sayaka Murata's 'Earthlings': Alienated misfits fight against the ties that bind

Sayaka Murata’s latest novel is an incisive expose of societal pressures and expectations, and touches on taboo topics such as abuse and incest.

Books Sep 26, 2020

‘Reconciliation’ is an exemplar of the introspective I-novel genre

Naoya Shiga’s confessional, autobiographical novella stands the test of time with its themes of relationships, grief and aging.

Books | The World of Translators Sep 19, 2020

Polly Barton: A heart set on literary translation

The Bristol-based translator balances art-related texts with literary translation and has just finished her first original work, “Fifty Sounds.”

Books Sep 5, 2020

‘Astral Season, Beastly Season’: The ambiguity and conflicting extremes of being a teenager

Poet Tahi Saihate’s novel centered on adolescence offers an authentic yet compassionate view of searching for meaning and human connections.

Books | The World of Translators Aug 22, 2020

Jay Rubin: An academic’s path to translation

To introduce our readers to translators of Japanese literature, we'll be highlighting one working translator each month, starting with Jay Rubin.

Books Aug 8, 2020

Chilling Japanese ghost tales with contemporary twists to help you beat the summer heat

Here’s a look at modern takes on Japanese ghost stories that will give you chills and thrills during Japan’s spookiest time of year.

Books / Reviews Aug 8, 2020

‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’: New translation of Japan’s favorite witch delivers

Emily Balistrieri’s English translation brings the magical adventures of an adolescent witch to a new generation of readers.

Books Jun 20, 2020

‘Hojoki’: The paradox of desire and detachment in recluse literature

Kamo no Chomei's "Hojoki" taps into the universal appeal and cognitive dissonance of a fundamental question of Buddhism: Can humans ever eliminate desire and attachment?

Books / Reviews May 2, 2020

'Breasts and Eggs': Not just some elevated piece of literary chick-lit

“Breasts and Eggs” emerges as a triumph of storytelling that champions the power of storge (Greek for familial love) — between sisters, between father and son or mother and daughter, between friends and colleagues.