According to Mitsuyo Tsunoda's modern translation
It started moving lively
What is “The Tale of Genji”?

The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu in the mid-Heian period, is a classic that represents Japan and has been read not only in Japan but around the world for over a thousand years. There are various theories about this epic story, which is made up of 54 chapters, but it is said that the story spans about 400 years, with about 2500 sheets of 500-character manuscript paper, and about 70 characters. It is an amazing feature-length work that appeared a thousand years ago.

Since the Meiji period, many writers, including Akiko Yosano and Junichiro Tanizaki, have been fascinated by this classic, which is said to be the world's oldest story, and have translated it into the languages ​​of their times, and it has also been translated into 33 languages ​​overseas. has been done. It is truly a rare masterpiece that continues to be read across time and space. A new modern translation of ``The Tale of Genji'' has been completed. The translator of ``The Tale of Genji,'' which is included in ``The Complete Works of Japanese Literature'' (published by Kawade Shobo Shinsha, total 30 volumes), is Mitsuyo Tsunoda. In 2017, he released the ``first volume'' which contained chapters 21, ``Kiritsubo'' to 2018 chapters, ``Shoujo'', and in 22, he published the ``middle volume'', which contained chapters 41, ``Tamakazura'' to 42 chapters, ``Phantom''. Kamizusa. Finally, the climax comes in the second volume, which includes chapters 54, ``Nioumiya'' and XNUMX, ``Yumeukihashi''. On the day when Volume XNUMX is about to be published, we spoke to him about the appeal of ``The Tale of Genji,'' which has been revived through Mitsuyo Tsunoda's modern translation.

sudden offer
After getting lost, I finally arrived
“The most formal and easy to read translation.”

The impetus was that Natsuki Ikezawa, the editor of ``The Complete Works of Japanese Literature,'' nominated me and said, ``I'd like a current author to translate it. What about Mr. Tsunoda?'' ``If Mr. Ikezawa, who is a big fan, approached me, I would not be able to refuse him.However, many eminent writers and researchers have already translated The Tale of Genji into modern languages. Where should I find the meaning of the translation? After thinking about it for several days, I came up with the answer: ``The most formal and easy-to-read translation.''

The Tale of Genji, written in the language of the Heian period, has no subject and is written in a mixture of honorifics, humbles, and double honorifics, and uses different words to express relationships between characters. Junichiro Tanizaki's translation is said to be the most faithful to the original, but since the subject is not written, it is difficult to read unless you have a background in the classics. The reason why so few people have read the entire story, even if they only know the outline of The Tale of Genji, is that many of the modern translations to date are difficult to read, as they are somewhat different from the language that Japanese people read and speak today. , I think the main reason is that you can't easily enter the world of the story.

``I decided to give up the fun of deciphering relationships through the use of different words.That's why I included a subject, and I tried to write in words that we use on a daily basis. I want to create a work that people can read smoothly and enter the world of the story." In Genji Tsunoda, the words used in conversations by the women are differentiated according to gender and social status, such as ``-na-no'' and ``-dawa,'' so it is easy to tell who is speaking to whom. Thanks to this, I can read the book in the same rhythm as a modern novel. The book has been carefully considered for modern readers so that most of the stories can be read through to the end.

The Sarashina Diary, written by Sugawara no Takasue's daughter, who lived at the same time as The Tale of Genji, states that when she was a teenager, she wanted to read The Tale of Genji, and finally got around to reading it. There is a description of how happy you feel when you enter the temple. The Tale of Genji was a huge bestseller that people in the aristocratic society of the time read voraciously.

``During that era, many people, including young aristocratic women, were probably fascinated by ``The Tale of Genji'' because they could imagine specific images of Hikaru Genji and other characters while reading it. I think that's why." Tsunoda Genji is translated in such a way that even modern people, whose daily lives are far removed from the sensibilities and worldview of the Heian period people, can empathize with the characters. Tsunoda says that this is largely due to Tsunoda's ability, but even more than that, it is Murasaki Shikibu's skill and greatness as a writer.

Murasaki Shikibu is
Good at using props
ストーリーテラー

``It is difficult for modern people to empathize with stories from the Heian period, where love begins simply by exchanging songs without ever seeing each other.Nonetheless, the reason why ``The Tale of Genji'' has been read for such a long time is because of this. I think this is because this story has a richness that can be read in different ways depending on the era and the reader.For example, it provides us today with knowledge about the Heian court, its customs, and religious events. The reason why they can be read even without metaphors is because Murasaki Shikibu skillfully uses them as props to develop the story in a sense. For example, in those days, in order to avoid illness or disaster, it was customary to stay at home on days when one should avoid going out, as determined by fortune-telling and Onmyo-do. However, Tsunoda says that such customs can also be read as a ``device'' that leads to the next event.

``In ``Uji Jucho,'' when Nioumiya was staying alone with Ukifune, Ukifune's mother sent a messenger to visit her, and the attendant's wife, who was in a hurry, said, ``At the moment (Ukifune is menstruating. There is a verse that says, ``I hate it.'' When her mother heard this, she reassured her, ``Just because she's menstruating doesn't mean she's pregnant.'' When the wife said, ``It's disgusting,'' her mother had no idea that her daughter had had an affair with Nioumiya, and she was relieved that she would be safely taken in by Kaoru, which made Ukifune even more jealous. is cornered. There's no way the author, Murasaki Shikibu, would have made such a ``device'' for readers a thousand years from now, but it's interesting that it becomes a foreshadowing when we read it today.''

Tsunoda says that when he writes novels, he distances himself from the people he is writing about and does not empathize with them. Even when he was translating The Tale of Genji into modern language, he proceeded with the translation in a calm manner, without paying particular attention to the characters. However, there was someone he hated and could never forgive. Who is this surprising person who made Mitsuyo Tsunoda, who was always flat and gentle, say, ``I'm surprised even myself, that I started to dislike her?'' And what is the true image of this person who "probably only the author Murasaki Shikibu knows"? In the second part, we will get closer.

Continuing to the world of "The Tale of Genji" opened up by Mitsuyo Tsunoda's translation (Part 2)

(Titles omitted)

Kakuta Mitsuyo
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1967. In 90, he made his debut by winning the Kaien New Literature Award for ``Happy Game''. Her many books include ``Girlfriend on the Other Shore'' (Naoki Prize), ``The Eighth Day's Cicada'' (Chuo Kosei Art Award), and ``Paper Moon'' (Shibata Renzaburo Prize).