Peter MacMillan: The Award-Winning Translator Bringing 'Manyoshu' to the World

Peter MacMillan is known for sharing the allure of Japanese culture and classical literature with audiences around the world. His fluent Japanese and warm smile are his trademarks, making him a familiar presence in Japanese newspapers and on television.

In 2021, MacMillan relocated to a traditional house near Mount Ogura in Kyoto. There, he enjoys life with his beloved cats while embarking on an ambitious, decade-long project: a full English translation of the Japanese waka collection Manyoshu.

What drives his deep love for classical Japanese literature and fuels his passion to share it with the world?

First in a Three-Part Series

From the 'Land of Fairies' to Kyoto

MacMillan hails from Ireland, a country famously described by Ryotaro Shiba as the "Land of Fairies." His appreciation of Japanese literature is rooted in a deep understanding and connection with the spirituality of Japanese culture.

At his home in Kyoto, MacMillan chuckles, "It's dark and also inconvenient because it's far from the station. But we are at the foot of Mount Ogura. It feels like fate, doesn't it?"

Indeed, MacMillan's new home is located right in the heart of Hyakunin Isshu's sacred ground. The card game karuta is based on the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, a poetry anthology compiled by Fujiwara no Teika from the Kamakura period (1185–1333). His mountain villa is believed to have been near Mount Ogura in Kyoto's Ukyo Ward.

"An old friend lives near here, and I've always wanted to do the same," explains MacMillan. "When I found this house on Facebook, I hopped on the Shinkansen [bullet train] and was in Kyoto three hours later. I feel incredibly lucky."

A Journey into Japanese Literature

MacMillan earned his PhD in English literature in the United States and came to Japan after accepting a job offer from a university. As he adjusted to life in Japan, he became captivated by the country's traditional culture, especially its classical literature, including waka poetry.

During a time when he was uncertain about his career path, MacMillan decided to translate the Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each) for the first time. His translation received high praise from Donald Keene, a prominent scholar of Japanese literature, and was published by Columbia University Press in 2008. The work won translation awards in both Japan and the US, leading MacMillan to pursue a career as a translator.

Since then, he has translated other classical works, including The Tales of Ise. He has also published books in Japan that allow readers to enjoy Japanese classics in English. Through his works, MacMillan offers new ways to appreciate these timeless literary masterpieces.

Playing Traditional Games in English

One of his innovative projects is an English version of Hyakunin Isshu karuta called WHACK A WAKA, designed to share the joy of Hyakunin Isshu with a global audience.

The cards are the size of standard playing cards. Just like Hyakunin Isshu karuta, the set includes 100 "reading cards," each featuring a waka poem and an illustration, as well as 100 "grabbing cards" with the second halves of the poems. The translations are rendered as five-line verses, designed for rhythm and flow, making them enjoyable to read aloud.

In the fall of 2016, as the project was nearing completion, MacMillan received an unexpected call from the US Embassy. Caroline Kennedy, who was the US Ambassador to Japan at the time, expressed interest in his work.

The following year, the US Ambassador's Residence in Tokyo hosted the world's first English Hyakunin Isshu karuta tournament, inviting Japanese high school students to participate. The event was reportedly a tremendous success.

Rising Popularity of Karuta

In March 2024, Daikaku-ji Temple in Kyoto hosted an English karuta tournament. It gathered international students from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), where MacMillan serves as a cultural instructor.

The event aimed to deepen the students' understanding of Japanese culture. They enjoyed the beauty of waka through English translations and appreciated its storytelling.

In recent years, competitive karuta has gained popularity in Japan. It seems that the excitement of the game is equally engaging whether played in Japanese or English.

"Karuta is a perfect way to introduce Japanese culture. Everyone who participates becomes hooked," MacMillan says. "My dream is to host a world tournament every year and, one day, see it become an Olympic sport."

About Peter J MacMillan

MacMillan is an award-winning translator, scholar, poet, and artist. Born and raised in Ireland, he graduated first in his class from University College Dublin of the National University of Ireland, where he earned an MA in philosophy. He later received a PhD in English literature in the United States. 

MacMillan has served as a visiting researcher at Columbia University and other prestigious institutions. Currently, he is a part-time lecturer at the University of Tokyo and a visiting professor at Sagami Women's University. 

His English translation of the Hyakunin Isshu has won translation awards in both Japan and the US. In addition to writing newspaper columns, he regularly appears on NHK World-Japan and KBS Kyoto Radio. 

MacMillan has also penned several books, including Eigo de Ajiwau Manyoshu (enjoying the Manyoshu in English) and Matsuo Basho wo Tabisuru (traveling the world of Matsuo Basho).
 

Continues in Part 2: Translator Peter MacMillan on His Love of Literature and Living with Cats

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• 'TAMASHIZUME': A Musical Exploration of Hyakunin Isshu and Its Secrets
• Author Ryoko Sekiguchi: Creating a New Vocabulary for Intercultural Communication
• Plum Blossoms: Children Revive a Poet's Millennium-Old Love

(Read the series in Japanese.)

Author: Naoko Yamagami, The Sankei Shimbun