2018 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Japonisme and Henry Miller: Empirically Proving the Impact of Japan on his Life and Works
| Project/Area Number |
18K12321
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| Research Institution | The University of Kitakyushu |
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Principal Investigator |
WAYNE E.ARNOLD 北九州市立大学, 外国語学部, 准教授 (20740624)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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| Keywords | Henry Miller / Japonism / archive / archival / Interviews / Anais Nin / Letters / Field research |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Thus far, the research and translation efforts have been very rewarding. In Tochigi Prefecture, I found several hundred original letters from Henry Miller to Bezalel Schatz. A summary of these letters will be published in June, 2019. These letters have never before been seen by any biographer of Henry Miller. Because the letters have been "lost" in Tochigi Prefecture, their value is most important. Miller wrote in these letters many aspects about his business dealings with Japan. The letters will be published in the Japan Henry Miller journal, DELTA and will prove useful for new Miller biographical perspectives. Additionally, I travelled to the United States for archival research at the New York Public Library. The materials that I have located contain many references to Japan. Translation work has helped provide several articles discussing Miller and Japan. Additionally, interviews with Japanese people have also uncovered new and exciting aspects of Miller's interaction with Japan. In September, I interviewed Yasunori Honda sensei, who is the top scholar on Henry Miller in Japan. His support and experience has allowed me to find new people in Japan who knew Miller. The field of Life Writing will become the primary method through which I will approach Miller's letters and materials about Japan.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Progress is being rapidly made concerning uncovering new elements of Henry Miller and Japan. While there are still some lost letters, the number of Japanese articles found at the National Diet Library in Tokyo has been very rewarding. Additionally, I have received significant support from Japanese individuals who are eager to talk about Miller. Currently, I am working on an article that will eventually be turned into a book length report. Additionally, I have research trips planned for visiting more archive libraries to discover more letters and materials. Current work involves organizing the materials gathered on the two previous research trips. Also, I am writing an article on Miller and four Japanese men who were influential in Miller's reputation here in Japan.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Future plans are to again visit Tochigi prefecture; interview Ueno Shiori one more time; write and publish three articles on Miller and Japan during this year; continue to organize the information gathered during archival research trips; apply for a fellowship grant at UCLA; continue to search for original letters from Henry Miller--to date, I have discovered more than 1000 letters. There is the possibility of traveling to Israel to meet with the nephew of Henry Miller's friend, Bezalel Schatz, as there may be more letters in Israel that are connected with Miller's interest in Japan. I have applied to two conferences and plan to present on the Miller research discovered last year. The main priority is to be writing and publishing more articles this year, in a variety of journal articles. Life writing will become the methodology through which I will approach Miller's writings about Japan.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Expenses for this next year will include the purchase of more books on Henry Miller. There are only a few books left that I do not own. Also, translation and document editing will continue. It is important to gather the extensive materials written in Japanese on Miller. These are important as many articles contain interviews and personal information about Miller's California life. There will also be two conferences I hope to attend and those will be in Tokyo and California. Research in both Tochigi Prefecture and UCLA will again be conducted. Interview in Tokyo will be conducted with Hoki Tokuda, Miller' ex-wife, and various Miller scholars. The National Diet Library will also be visited for more newspaper and magazine articles in order to prepare an article on Miller and Japonism.
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