Translating Japanese Literature
What do you do when your professor tells you to find and translate a Japanese short story that hasn't already been translated into English?
Supporting J-Lit in Translation
- Japan Foundation's Japanese Literature in TranslationThis is the most current source of information about translations, particularly for contemporary materials.
- Japanese Writers' HouseLaunched in 2005, Japanese Writers' House is an enterprise owned & managed by TranNet KK, a Tokyo-based literary agency and book translation company. Our goal is to become a key platform for editors, agents, and translators around the world, interested in finding out more about modern and contemporary Japanese culture and literature. Showcasing a variety of interesting works with international potential on behalf of Japanese publishers and authors, we are very proud to be associated with an extensive network of talents and companies, ranging from budding young writers to long-established publishers, such as Kawade Shobo Shinsha, a firm founded in 1886. One of a handful of Japanese agencies promoting Japanese works in English, Japanese Writers' House is passionate about introducing Japanese culture to the world.
To find something that hasn't been translated, you need to check what has been translated, and work by elimination.
- Michael Watson's Premodern Japanese Texts and TranslationsNote: hasn't been updated since 2013. If you are interested in classical Japanese literature, there is no better place to find information - both online access to the Japanese texts and information about translations.
- 英語で読む日本文学This is an interesting website compiled by a Japanese person. There are links with both the original Japanese covers and the English translations.
- List of Translations published in Monumenta NipponicaAll available online through JSTOR. Use the search button and limit to translations to find them.
World Directories
- World Directory of Children's Book TranslatorsThe World Directory of Children’s Book Translators was launched in partnership with UNESCO’s Index Translationum. A database listing professional translators specializing in children’s literature, the Directory is a key point of contact between publishers and translation specialists. As well as the most frequently requested languages, the Directory also has ample listings of the so-called minority languages, with 55 languages currently represented. It is therefore a key tool for both professionals entering the market and for those seeking reliable high-quality translation products.
- Last Updated: Mar 6, 2024 11:00 AM
- URL: https://guides.library.umass.edu/transjpn
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