'The Japanese Discovery of Chinese Fiction': A literary classic's outsize impact on Japan
In "The Japanese Discovery of Chinese Fiction," William C. Helberg delves into Japan's fascination with "The Water Margin," and how its influence spread beyond the confines of pure literature.
Is Japan enjoying a new literary golden age?
With more and more Japanese novels in translation achieving commercial and critical success, Nicolas Gattig and Damian Flanagan argue over whether a new wave of writers are transcending Japan's literary past.
Tokyo's Jimbocho neighborhood won't close the chapter on books
Thousands of bibliophiles are expected to descend on Tokyo's Jinbocho neighborhood over the next week or so as the city celebrates the 60th anniversary of its largest secondhand book fair. Some even claim the Kanda Used Book Festival, which this year runs through Nov. 4, ...
Oldest written copy of 'missing' part of classic work 'Tale of Genji' discovered
A manuscript containing a missing part of classic Japanese work of literature "The Tale of Genji," written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early years of the 11th century, has been found among the heirlooms of the family of a former feudal lord, a cultural ...
Late Japanese literature scholar Donald Keene remembered at Columbia University ceremony
A ceremony to commemorate noted Japanese literature scholar Donald Keene, who died in February this year aged 96, was held at Columbia University in New York, his alma mater, on Friday. About 200 people, including some who studied under him, attended. Keene, who was ...
Museum chronicling novelist Natsume Soseki's life in U.K. begins new chapter
A museum dedicated to novelist Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) that closed in 2016 has reopened in a new location in southeast England. Previously in south London, at the site of Soseki's lodgings during his stay in Britain, the museum closed after 32 years amid dwindling attendance ...
Seiko Tanabe, an award-winning author known for her modernized version of the classic "Tale of Genji" titled "Shin-Genji Monogatari," died of cholangitis, an inflammation of the bile duct, on June 6 in Kobe, her family said Monday. She was 91. Born in Osaka, the author ...
Hyper-wired South Korea is the world's 11th-largest economy, one of its most technologically advanced countries, and the first to launch a nationwide 5G network. But that is a relatively recent transformation. At the other end of the spectrum, many of its elderly are illiterate. Now some ...
Museum devoted to Japanese novelist Natsume Soseki, shuttered in London in 2016, to reopen in Surrey
A museum in London devoted to renowned Japanese novelist Natsume Soseki (1867-1916), which was closed over two years ago, is set to be revived in nearby Surrey in May. Ikuo Tsunematsu, 67, who headed the museum, decided to reopen it after receiving a flurry of ...
Banna, Banpo, Eiko, Koshi and Kyuka: The Japan eras that could have been, beaten out by Reiwa
Five of the potential names for Japan's next era that were unsuccessful at the final stage came to light Tuesday, a day after the government selected Reiwa from the six finalists. The five other candidates were Eiko, Kyuka, Koshi, Banna and Banpo, sources with knowledge ...
What's in a name? Reiwa reflects today's politics, Japan's cultural history and a social philosophy
Media hype over Reiwa, the newly announced name for the upcoming era, continued unabated Tuesday. At the same time, a majority of people appeared to happily welcome the name, which means "auspicious" (rei) and "peace" or "harmony" (wa). However, the choice of the era name ...
Haruki Murakami: Writing in a parallel universe, connecting with a global readership
In Japan, it was the runaway best-seller status of "Norwegian Wood" (1987), his wistful tale of crushed innocence and young love that sold more than 4 million copies in Japanese alone, that established Murakami's iconic status.
