Japanese Literary Researches in France, State of Translations, and Perspectives in the 21st Century

SAKAI, Cécile

doi:2017.5.1.17

The Journal of Japanese Language Literature Studies > Volume 5(1); 2017 > Article

Article

Border Crossings: The Journal of Japanese-Language Literature Studies 2017;5(1): 17-28.
doi: https://doi.org/10.22628/bcjjl.2017.5.1.17

Japanese Literary Researches in France, State of Translations, and Perspectives in the 21st Century

Cécile SAKAI

パリ ․ ディドロ大学東アジア言語文化学部日本語科教授

フランスにおける日本文学研究の現状、翻訳事情、21世紀の課題

Correspondence Cécile SAKAI ,Email: c.sakai@mfj.gr.jp

Published online: 30 December 2017.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on research on Japanese literature from the perspective of foreign literature, using literature research in France as a case study. Beginning with a brief history of the introduction of Japanese literature to France, through to translations into French starting from the end of the 19th century, this paper aims to characterize French research on Japanese literature from the 1960s to the present time under the trend of globalization. It considers the conditions in which area studies, especially literary studies, can overcome new trials in reading, languages, and the invention of new approaches. Several issues in the field of interactive relations, in comparative literature (Western and Eastern), regional literature (Asian), and other Foreign Literature are highlighted, as well as collective projects supported by academic institutions. Literary studies are at critical turning point, as the circulation of research remains in academic circles composed of the very readers of the translations, rather than reaching wider educated audience. This paper argues for stronger links between current authors, creators of ultra-contemporary literature, and critics and specialists, from universities and others. To this end, examples from Genji Monogatari, Haruki Murakami, and Yôko Tawada are introduced.

Keywords: Japanese Literature in France, Translation, Literary Researches, Globalization, Perspectives in the 21st Century

キ―ワ―ド: フランスにおける日本文学, 翻訳, 文学研究, グローバル化, 21世紀の展望