Professional Luncheon:
Juliet W. Carpenter, Professor of Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts;
Paul McCarthy, Professor of Surugadai University;
Sumio Saito, President, KK The Japan Documents

The speech and Q & A will be in English.

Deciphering Japan’s Longtime Bestseller

Novelist and essayist Ryotaro Shiba's documentary fiction "Saka no Ue no Kumo" (provisional English title "Clouds Above the Hill") has been one of Japan's all-time bestsellers.

The story about how Japan won the war against Russia in the Meiji era, as depicted by Shiba through two brothers and great literary figures of the time such as Shiki Masaoka has fascinated many Japanese. The colossal work has sold more than 18 million copies.

Public broadcaster NHK in late November began an ambitious multiyear Sunday drama based on the best-selling novel and TV industry watchers predict it could become a blockbuster drama.

Now, a timely project is under way to translate this epoch-making novel into English as Japan is struggling to reassert itself as a credible big power in the world.

Saito will explain an outline of the project and professors and veteran translators of Japanese literature McCarthy and Carpenter will talk about the joy and hard work associated with the project.

MENU
Sandwich Plate: Ham, chicken, cheese, cucumber, dijon mayonnaise & tomato on baguette with salad & pickles.
Hot Plate: Cajun spiced swordfish with vegetable couscous, avocado salsa, zucchini, pine nuts, spinach & raisins and seasonal salad.

Juliet W. Carpenter, Professor of Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts

Sumio Saito, President, KK The Japan Documents