The Japanese literature section in a Paris bookstore features works by Keigo Higashino and Toshikazu Kawaguchi. (©Sankei by Mina Mitsui)
A symposium was held in Paris on February 7 to mark the 30th anniversary of the prestigious Japanese-French Literature Translation Awards, organized by the Konishi Foundation for International Exchange. In recent years, a growing number of Japanese literary works have been translated and published for readers in Europe and the United States, with their popularity steadily increasing.
We spoke with Professor Emeritus Cécile Sakai of Université Paris Cité, who chairs the awards' selection committee in France, about recent trends in publishing.
Excerpts from the interview follow.
How is Japanese literature being received in Europe?
Japanese iyashikei ["healing"] literature is extremely popular at the moment. These novels bring soothing to the reader and are often described as "feel-good" or "care" literature. Another factor behind this boom is the role of US-based literary agents, who have developed global promotion and sales strategies that have helped Japanese works reach a wider audience.
Behind this rise in popularity is a growing sense of crisis across Europe. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts in neighboring regions such as Ukraine and Palestine have continued, and feelings of anxiety are stronger than in Japan. Younger generations, in particular, find it difficult to see hope for the future and feel a strong desire to escape harsh realities.
Although it may be a stereotype, Japan is often perceived as a gentle society. Readers take comfort in quiet Japanese novels featuring cats or small neighborhood eateries, finding in them a sense of calm and reassurance.
Which Japanese novels are popular in France?
In the past, Japanese literature published in France mainly consisted of works by authors such as Kenzaburo Oe, Jun'ichiro Tanizaki, and Yukio Mishima. These novels confronted readers with serious and often challenging themes. This changed dramatically in the 21st century. Alongside the boom in manga, the arrival of Haruki Murakami's works marked a major turning point.
Murakami's writing transcends borders, allowing readers from many backgrounds to enter his fictional worlds with ease. Kafka on the Shore, published in France in 2006, became a bestseller. In the 2010s, Japanese light novels also gained popularity. Books with accessible, easy-to-follow plots — such as fantasy and science fiction — came to be widely read.
Do sales differ by country?
In the UK and the US, Butter by Asako Yuzuki was a major hit. It also sold in France, but not to the same extent. The novel focuses on relationships between women, and differences in gender awareness and gender relations between the Anglophone world and France may have influenced its reception.
By contrast, in France, Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi became a massive bestseller. It is a feel-good novel that resonates with readers in an understated way. In Italy, Banana Yoshimoto enjoys exceptionally strong popularity. These examples show that national character clearly plays a role in how Japanese literature is received.
How did audiences in France react to the film Kokuho?
The film was released last December, and I saw it at the Japan Cultural Institute in Paris. It was excellent, capturing both the splendor and the darker sides of the kabuki world. The screening was full, and it has been well received by enthusiasts of Japanese culture. However, it hasn't sparked widespread popularity in France like it did in Japan. For general audiences unfamiliar with the art of onnagata [male actors who specialize in female roles] it can be difficult to fully grasp.
How is Japanese literature being translated into French?
In the past, Japanese literature in France was mainly published by prestigious, long-established houses such as Gallimard or Albin Michel. Today, the range has broadened, and even regional publishers are releasing Japanese works. When a book becomes a hit, it can generate substantial profits. In the 1990s, there were roughly 15 translators of Japanese literature in France. Today, that number has grown to around 40. Some younger translators in their 30s now work on both novels and manga.
Will artificial intelligence change translation?
It can be useful for works that are primarily plot-driven. Because AI can reduce costs, some publishers may choose to use it. However, with literary works, the meaning and nuance depend heavily on the translator's knowledge and depth of understanding.
In the 1990s, I worked with five or six translators on a French edition of the two-volume selected works of Jun'ichiro Tanizaki. At that time, before internet searches were available, we walked around Kyoto to research the cafés and long-established shops mentioned in the texts. We also provided detailed explanatory notes, which were praised by Japanese literary scholars. AI translation cannot match the insight and subtlety of human translation.
About Cécile Sakai
Cécile Sakai is Professor Emeritus at Université Paris Cité. From 2016 to 2019, she served as director of the Institut Français de Recherche sur le Japon / Maison Franco-Japonaise. Her specialty is modern and contemporary Japanese literature.
In 2000, she received the Konishi Foundation's Japanese-French Literature Translation Award for co-translating Fumiko Enchi's The Waiting Years. She has served as a judge for the prize since 2006 and has translated works by Yasunari Kawabata, Jun'ichiro Tanizaki, Taeko Kono, and others.
Following the translation symposium in Paris, an award ceremony was held. The Encouragement Prize was presented to Jean-Baptiste Flamin for his French translation of The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Mina Mitsui, The Sankei Shimbun
