What happens during the translation process of a literary work from Japanese to English? In Episode 8 of The Artist's Statement, we speak with Michael Emmerich, author of more than a dozen literary works in translation, including those by authors such as Nobel Laureate Yasunari Kawabata, Banana Yoshimoto, Genichiro Takahashi, and Hiromi Kawakami.

Emmerich discusses the role of Japanese literature in American culture, his translation process, and some considerations for authors who will have their work translated. He also details specific examples from Takahashi's novel, Sayonara, Gangsters, and Kawakami's novel, Manazuru.

The author of The Tale of Genji: Translation, Canonization, and World Literature, Emmerich shares his views of the impact of the classic Genji monogatari on the world, and the role of translation and replacement in the work's popularity.

Host: Davin Malasarn

The Artist's Statement is brought to you by The Granum Foundation.