UPCOMING EVENTS
MONDAY, JULY 13, 2026
6:00–7:30 PM
The Canadian Connection:
How literary translators bring Japanese voices to the world
Location: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, 2 Bloor St. East, 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8 Canada
You may have noticed an increasing number of Japanese titles appearing on bestseller lists and displayed at your local bookstores and libraries. Behind this growing popularity and access to Japanese voices are literary translators, whose work helps to shape how Japanese literature is read, understood, and enjoyed around the world.
To celebrate the vital yet often unrecognized work of translators who bring Japanese voices to the world, three Canada-based translators of Japanese literature will gather onstage at the Japan Foundation. The conversation will be moderated by an editor of Japanese literature in translation, and together they will reflect on the work of translation, sharing insights into the creative process, the opportunities and challenges facing translators today, and the evolving landscape of Japanese literature in translation. The speakers will also discuss the dynamic role of the literary magazine MONKEY: New Writing from Japan (formerly Monkey Business) in bridging languages, cultures, and literary traditions to bring Japanese literature to English readers.