This photo is taken from a reproduction in Edward Seidensticker's autobiography, Tokyo Central, mentioned in a previous blog post.
Seidensticker's comment on the snapshot, taken in early 1965, notes a rare instance of Tanizaki Jun'ichiro smiling - "He was known for his adverserial approach to cameras..."
What is more remarkable, surely, is the collected brilliance of the four figures pictured together. Howard Hibbett, Seidensticker, Tanizaki and Donald Keene?!
It is, perhaps, not unprecedented that three preeminent translators, and long-standing friends, are found seated on the same bench, and with an icon of modern Japanese literature. Still - rare records like this form a fascinating visual counterpart to the evolving story of Japanese literature in translation.
Seidensticker's comment on the snapshot, taken in early 1965, notes a rare instance of Tanizaki Jun'ichiro smiling - "He was known for his adverserial approach to cameras..."
What is more remarkable, surely, is the collected brilliance of the four figures pictured together. Howard Hibbett, Seidensticker, Tanizaki and Donald Keene?!
It is, perhaps, not unprecedented that three preeminent translators, and long-standing friends, are found seated on the same bench, and with an icon of modern Japanese literature. Still - rare records like this form a fascinating visual counterpart to the evolving story of Japanese literature in translation.
RSS Feed