The Social and Cultural Impact of Literary Translators in Japan from 1950 to 1970

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K13436
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Literature in general
• Research Institution: University of the Sacred Heart
• Principal Investigator: Corbeil Steve 聖心女子大学, 現代教養学部, 准教授 (80469147)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: Translation studies / Postwar Japan / Invisible translator / Shibusawa Tatsuhiko / Law and literature / Censorship / Sovereingnty

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research is to reconsider the concept of the "invisible translator" within the context of postwar Japan. The common understanding is that more visibility equals a better distribution of the cultural capital associated with translation. The situation of translators in Japan can serve as a counter-example. After the war, Japanese translators achieved social recognition. This recognition led many people to consider them as "real authors". Unfortunately, our research showed that the reason behind this new social status was to make translators, especially literary translators, accountable for their writing, regardless of the texts' origins. Our research was based on (1) translations’ paratexts (2) literary trials (3) issues of sovereignty and (4) translators'representation in media. Furthermore, we studied closely the life and work of Shibusawa Tatsuhiko, a Japanese translator of French literature.

Free Research Field

Translation studies

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果は主に英語で発表した。トランスレーション・スタディーズの研究者に日本の翻訳家の特有な状況を明確に示して、「翻訳家透明論」の再考を促すことに貢献できた。また澁澤龍彦を中心に、日本研究者を含め、欧米では知られていない重要な日本人の翻訳家の仕事と思想を紹介し、分析した。さらに、文学のみならず、アニメなどにおける翻訳家の表象を研究したことで、幅広く研究成果を発信することができた。この研究によって、日本国内外では翻訳家の作品が再び注目されると確信している。