Translation has transformed "Japanese literature" into a different object, that is to say "Japanese literature in France". Does a translated work still convey the same meaning as the original? What kind of works attracts the attention of French readers, and for which reasons? Can the inner world and the style of Japanese novels have a counterpart in French language and literature? We will examine different aspects of Japanese literature as seen from France, and attempt to draw its main outline.

Corinne Atlan is a French translator and novelist. She earned a degree in Japanese Language at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) as well as a degree in linguistics at the University of Paris, Sorbonne. She started translating Japanese literature in 1990 and in 2006 participated in the international symposium and workshop "The Wild Haruki Chase: How the World Is Reading and Translating Murakami" organized by the Japan Foundation. As a 2007 Japanese Studies fellow, she conducts her research with the support of Prof. Motoyuki Shibata, the University of Tokyo, on the theme of "Evolution and Trends of the Japanese Literature from the standpoint of a translator."

Translated works of Ms. Atlan include : Haruki Murakami "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World", "Dance Dance Dance", "The Elephant Vanishes", "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle", "South of the Border, West of the Sun", "All God's Children Can Dance", "Sputnik Sweetheart", "Kafka on the Shore"; Ogai Mori "Sansho-Dayu"; Soseki Natsume "The Gate"; Ryotaro Shiba "The Last Shogun"; Natsuki Ikezawa "A Burden of Flowers"; Mari Akasaka "Vibrator"; Ryu Murakami "Coin Locker Babies", "KYOKO", "Raffles Hotel", "In the Miso Soup"; Fumiko Hayashi "Floating Clouds" and some works by Yasushi Inoue, Hitonari Tsuji and Keiichiro Hirano.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

15:30-17:30

Japanese (no interpretation)

If you would like to attend the seminar, please notify Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange Dept. by Tuesday November 13, 2007 with your name, affiliation, and contact information (tel., fax or e-mail). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Tel: 03-5369-6069, Fax: 03-5369-6041