Public Seminar: WORLD LITERATURE, Japanese perspectives

In recent years, there has been a growing trend to read literary texts as “world literature.” Some Japanese writers and critics welcome this trend as an opportunity to gain a larger readership beyond national and linguistic borders, yet others are wary of it. While these diverse responses today are symptoms of the increasing globalization of cultures, it is also important to take a historical look.

In this public seminar, Dr Shion Kono (Sophia University) will situate the current Japanese debates on world literature in the global circulation and reception of Japanese literature over the past century.  He will also discuss the prospects of Japanese literature as world literature.  Joining Kono to explore these issues further will be Dr Irena Hayter from the University of Leeds.