Haruki Murakami, at 71, is dedicating himself to translating the American writer Carson McCullers’ “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter” into Japanese.
According to Sun TV, on October 8, in Hyogo Prefecture—where the writer attended high school—the audience gathered at a restaurant to watch the Nobel Prize in Literature ceremony online. Some were teary-eyed as Haruki Murakami once again “missed out” on the award. However, the Nobel Prize in Literature doesn’t seem to be a major concern for the writer. He stated that he is focused on translating books and hosting a radio show. During the pandemic, he translated The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, which has just been published in Japan.
In early October, on Japantimes, Murakami spoke about the translation process. Now in his 70s, he is happy to live as a translator, saying: “My greatest happiness is successfully translating a work I love.” With the passion he poured into this translation, the author of Norwegian Wood is eagerly awaiting the reactions of young people.
Unlike the books he previously translated—which were set in cities—The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter takes place in a small town, featuring realism and addressing religion. The work revolves around six lives, including a deaf-mute man, the Black doctor Copeland who is ostracized for his educational differences, and Jake Blount—a new resident—who always feels lost.
He shared: “The story ends with no way out but has a lingering taste of faith and brightness, which makes me feel warmth.” The writer was impressed with how McCullers depicted the characters’ souls. Each person in the work has their own suffering, which they share to somewhat alleviate their loneliness.
Murakami praised McCullers (1917–1967) as a genius with a keen eye for observation and a captivating writing style, even though she debuted her book at just 23. He likes how she built the setting of the story like a microcosm, with all types of people and personalities. Published in 1940, The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter was written in archaic language, making it difficult to fully translate into a foreign language. Therefore, Murakami experimented with many different ways of expression to achieve the most satisfactory translation.
The Japanese edition of “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter” was published in August. Carson McCullers released the work in 1940. The translator’s name, Haruki Murakami, is written on the cover. Photo: Japan Times.
According to Murakami, he dedicates himself to translation because Japanese readers pay little attention to classic world literature. He is the translator of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Raymond Chandler’s The Long Goodbye, and Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
The Japanese writer learned how to understand life and people from Western authors. He highly regards the American writer William Faulkner—who focuses on detail and has a unique perspective. He mentioned F. Scott Fitzgerald—the father of The Great Gatsby—as an inspiration, with works rich in emotional language that reflect the beauty of the era. According to Openculture, Murakami translated The Great Gatsby at the age of 60, when he believed he had enough skill to relatively convey the meaning of the original book. He contemplated every word and symbolic image, then asked himself how he would write if he were Fitzgerald. The writer said: “When I read, I understand the story, but while translating, I can evoke the mysteries of the language.”
Murakami believes that translation helps him develop his language. He compares the original Russian and American literature with the Japanese versions. Afterward, he studies how the translator uses language to convey sentences accurately and smoothly. The writer wrote seven pages of his first work in English, then translated it into his mother tongue, thereby avoiding superfluous words common in traditional Japanese writing. On the TLS page, the author revealed that when translating, he enjoys a comfortable feeling, like “soaking in a hot spring on a rainy day.”
Haruki Murakami is one of the most famous authors in contemporary Japanese literature. His notable works include: South of the Border, West of the Sun (1992), Sputnik Sweetheart (1999), Kafka on the Shore (2002), and 1Q84 (2009). After gaining fame with Norwegian Wood at age 38, his books were described as “pop culture” because they created a “fever” across Japan and the world. He received the Jerusalem Prize—an award for writers on freedom, peace, and social issues—in 2007. His most recent work, Killing Commendatore, was released in 2017.
In May, he appeared on the Stay Home Special program, encouraging listeners to overcome difficulties during the pandemic. He also has a regular show, Murakami Radio, which has been running for two years. Disliking public appearances, the author hosts the radio show because he wants to connect with the audience and share his music preferences.
Quynh Quyen (according to Japantimes)”
Source: VNExpress
