Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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The Akutagawa Prize has had some major controversies[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

The Akutagawa Prize founded in 1935 may be one of Japan’s most prestigious literary prizes, but it hasn’t escaped serious criticism or indeed controversy. It and its prize-winners have been accused of many things over the years including anti-Semitism, plagiarism and collusion. An expose of it… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Prizes
The Akutagawa Prize has had some major controversies Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Mishima, who was only active as a writer for 21 years after the publication of his first major novel, managed to write 40 novels, 18 plays and numerous essays during his short life[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) wrote 40 novels, 18 plays, 20 books of short stories, books of essays, hundreds of poems, as well as plays and film scripts before he died age 45, two months before his birthday. His first full-length major novel Confessions of a Mask, was… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
Mishima, who was only active as a writer for 21 years after the publication of his first major novel, managed to write 40 novels, 18 plays and numerous essays during his short life Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
The first Japanese translation of the bible was produced around 1549[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

St. Francis Xavier is said to have brought a Japanese translation of sections of The Gospel According to Matthew with him when he arrived in Japan in 1549. The translation was done by a young Japanese man called Yajiro, who is generally reported to have been the… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Book production
- Religion
- translation
The first Japanese translation of the bible was produced around 1549 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Some believe that the origin of one of Japan’s four alphabets, Katakana, is ancient Hebrew[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

Japanese uses multiple syllabary (alphabets) and has a special phonetic alphabet for foreign words: katakana, which has helped it manage the impact of foreign words entering its language. It is used for loanwords that enter the Japanese language, such as beer. The other alphabets used are… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Crime
- History
- Religion
Some believe that the origin of one of Japan’s four alphabets, Katakana, is ancient Hebrew Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Haruki Murakami, who loves cats, ran a jazz bar and coffee shop called Peter Cat before making his debut as a writer[UPDATED: 2-26-2018]

While studying at Waseda University in Tokyo Haruki Murakami, probably the best known contemporary Japanese writer in the English speaking world, met his wife Yoko, while working in a record store and set up a jazz bar and coffee shop called Peter Cat. He and his wife ran… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Kazufumi Shiraishi
- Mitsuyo Kakuta
- Cats
- translation
Haruki Murakami, who loves cats, ran a jazz bar and coffee shop called Peter Cat before making his debut as a writer Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Mishima, who was “openly gay”, married at the age of 33 after considering a number of prominent women as ‘marriage candidates’[UPDATED: 2-26-2018]

Despite living “openly” as a homosexual the brilliant Japanese author Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) had a “conventional marriage” to Yoko Sugiyama and had two children, a boy and a girl. They married in June 1958 at a ceremony at International House in Roppongi, Tokyo. A central location,… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Nobel
- Prizes
Mishima, who was “openly gay”, married at the age of 33 after considering a number of prominent women as ‘marriage candidates’ Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Historically, many of Japan’s most creative authors started life as samurai[UPDATED: 2-25-2018]

Monzaemon Chikamatsu (1653-1725), author of Love Suicides at Somezaki who is considered to be Japan’s Shakespeare and Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), often said to be the greatest master of haiku, were both born into samurai families and grew up as samurai before switching to the pen… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
- History
- Poetry
Historically, many of Japan’s most creative authors started life as samurai Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Despite being rivals for the Nobel Prize, Kawabata and Mishima were friends[UPDATED: 2-25-2018]

Yasunari Kawabata (1899-1972) became the first Japanese winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968, ahead of Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) who was nominated more than once for the prize and throughout the 1960s was considered a very strong candidate. The two men first met in… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Nobel
- Prizes
Despite being rivals for the Nobel Prize, Kawabata and Mishima were friends Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan

Factbook

The Akutagawa Prize has had some major controversies[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

Mishima, who was only active as a writer for 21 years after the publication of his first major novel, managed to write 40 novels, 18 plays and numerous essays during his short life[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

The first Japanese translation of the bible was produced around 1549[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

Some believe that the origin of one of Japan’s four alphabets, Katakana, is ancient Hebrew[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

Haruki Murakami, who loves cats, ran a jazz bar and coffee shop called Peter Cat before making his debut as a writer[UPDATED: 2-26-2018]

Mishima, who was “openly gay”, married at the age of 33 after considering a number of prominent women as ‘marriage candidates’[UPDATED: 2-26-2018]

Historically, many of Japan’s most creative authors started life as samurai[UPDATED: 2-25-2018]

Despite being rivals for the Nobel Prize, Kawabata and Mishima were friends[UPDATED: 2-25-2018]

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