[Announcement]International Bestselling Author KAWAGUCHI Toshikazu to Embark on North American Tour

Engaging with Readers in Canada and the U.S. Through Talk Events from September 26 to October 2

September 12 2024

川口俊和氏The Japan Foundation (JF), as a collaboration project of its Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles offices, dispatches writer KAWAGUCHI Toshikazu to the United States and Canada. This project is co-presented by the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), Hanover Square Press / HarperCollins Publishing, Japan Society, and the University of Toronto, Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library.
TIFA, now running for its 45th year, is one of the world’s most prestigious international literary festivals. The Japan Foundation, Toronto has a long history of inviting Japanese authors for the festival.
After the festival appearance in Toronto, Canada, Mr. Kawaguchi will travel to New York and Los Angeles in the United States, participating in events at each location. While Mr. Kawaguchi has proactively engaged with fans worldwide, this will be his first time attending events in North America.
Born in Osaka, Japan in 1971, Mr. Kawaguchi is a playwright, director, and author. His play Before the Coffee Gets Cold won the grand prize at the 10th Suginami Drama Festival. The novel adaptation of the play was nominated for the 2017 Japan Booksellers’ Award and was adapted into a Japanese feature film the following year. In 2021, a Hollywood studio acquired the adaptation rights to the novel. The novel series has now reached its fifth volume and has been translated into over 30 languages, with total sales exceeding 5 million copies.
This tour offers an excellent opportunity to understand how Japanese novels are received by international fans. North American readers and literary enthusiasts can expect to learn more about the author and his journey, as Mr. Kawaguchi shares his unique insights as a playwright, director, and author.

Event Titles, Dates, Venues:

[Toronto, Canada]
Curtain Up to a New Chapter: KAWAGUCHI Toshikazu's journey of storytelling across genres
Thursday, September 26, 2024 6:00 PM
The Japan Foundation, Toronto (2 Bloor St. East, Suite 300, Toronto, ON, Canada)
for more details
[Toronto, Canada]
The Secrets of a Time-Traveling Café (Toronto International Festival of Authors)
Friday, September 27, 2024 7:00 PM
Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON, Canada)
for more details
[New York, USA]
Author Talk and Signing: Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Saturday, September 28, 2024 5:00 PM
Japan Society (333 E 47th St, Manhattan, NY, U.S.A.)
for more details
[Los Angeles, USA]
Before YOUR Coffee Gets Cold: Meet Author Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 7:00 PM
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (5700 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.)
for more details
Co-presenters
The Japan Foundation, Toronto, The Japan Foundation, New York, The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, Toronto International Festival of Authors, Hanover Square Press / HarperCollins Publishing, Japan Society, University of Toronto, Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library

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Press Inquiries
Kumakura (Ms.), Ozutsumi (Ms.), Public Relations Dept., The Japan Foundation
Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6075 / Fax: +81-(0)3-5369-6044
E-mail: press@jpf.go.jp

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