over a thousand years
``The Tale of Genji'' is called a modern translation.
From the start to the end of the trip
The Tale of Genji tells the story of the glory and fall of Hikaru Genji, a nobleman with extraordinary beauty and wisdom who captivated everyone with his outstanding personality, set against the backdrop of political desires and power struggles in the aristocratic society of the Heian period. This work is centered around his love life. The world's oldest full-length story, written more than a thousand years ago in the mid-Heian period, has been translated into the language of the time and published by many writers since the Meiji period. The modern language translation of ``The Tale of Genji'' that author Mitsuyo Tsunoda has recently completed brings the story back to the present day in easy-to-read, warm language that is suitable for being passed down into the Reiwa era. .
Beautiful nobleman Kaoru
Only the author and translator know its true nature?
The Tale of Genji, compiled in Natsuki Ikezawa's Complete Works of Japanese Literature (all 30 volumes, published by Kawade Shobo Shinsha), consists of three volumes: upper, middle, and lower. The main character is Hikaru Genji, who has a radiant beauty and is perfect at everything he does, whether it's singing, dancing or orchestrating. However, he suffers from guilt after having an affair with Fujitsubo, who was favored by his father, Emperor Kiritsubo. Although he fell in love with many outstanding women and achieved great prosperity in the political world of the imperial court, he continued to suffer from his sins until his death (even after his death).
Volume 1, which includes stories from ``Kiritsubo'' to ``Shoujo,'' tells the story of Hikaru Genji's upbringing, his youth, when he was steadily rising through the ranks, and when Genji moved to Suma due to a political dispute, and when he returned to the capital. It depicts the story of how he regained power. Hikaru Genji is finally gaining power, and even though he spends his glorious days on the front stage, he has a premonition of his own decline and death.From "Tamakazura" to "Illusion", "Middle Volume" is set in the world after Genji's death. The works from ``Nioumiya'' to ``Takekawa'' and ``Uji Ten Chapters'' are included in ``Volume 2.'' Over the course of more than five years translating this long story, did Tsunoda have a favorite among the characters?
``Even when I write my own novels, I try to distance myself from the characters and avoid empathizing with them.So when I was translating The Tale of Genji, I didn't have a particular favorite character. ...There are people I really dislike." Who is this character who says that he hates Tsunoda in a strong tone?


The uniqueness of Tsunoda's translation. For example, he begins the story in a respectful manner, saying, ``When was the time of the emperor?'' and then changes to a normal tone, saying, ``Once upon a time, there was a woman who was deeply loved by the emperor.'' There are many ways to make it easier to read.
"I'm Kaoru! I've grown to hate him so much that even I was surprised." Kaoru was the son of Onna Sannomiya, who was married to Hikaru Genji. He was beautiful, well-educated, and had a great personality, like his father, and his body smelled good. He is a young man who is known as "Kaoru". However, he actually harbors a secret about his birth and is secretly tormented by the suspicion that his biological father is not Genji. Why does he hate Kaoru so much, who has inherited the brilliance of Genji, but also harbors a shadow of being frightened by unrighteousness, just like her father?
``Even though he claims to be a serious and straight-laced person, he always does the opposite of what he says, and he only thinks about how to win over women without looking bad to the world.In other words, he is a black-hearted person. He is well aware that people around him think of him as a nice person, and he thinks of himself that way.However, he is actually a dark-hearted man. I don't like that kind of clinginess, where Ukifune, who looks like me, is chased everywhere and cornered."
"The Tale of Genji" is
For each reader
bring out different emotions
The second volume, in which Kaoru is the main character, ``Uji Ten Chapters,'' in particular, is considered by many to be among the 54 chapters of The Tale of Genji. Some people say that the most interesting chapters in The Tale of Genji are the Ten Chapters of Uji. ``I've often been told by people who love The Tale of Genji that they like the Ten Chapters of Uji, and that the second volume is the most interesting. But she hated Kaoru so much that it was really hard for her to get used to him."
``Kaoru is portrayed as a straight-laced, caring and kind-hearted man who doesn't do things that women don't like.'' Both Oigimi and Nakanokimi who are pressured by him think, ``He's a disgusting person.'' But in the end, I think, ``There is no one else who cares about us this much,'' and Ukifune also thinks, ``If I were to think about the future, Kaoru would be better than Nioumiya.'' Both Ben no Kimi and Yokokawa Sozu think that Kaoru is a wonderful person and have no doubts about it. Furthermore, he believes himself to be a deep and straight-laced man. His calculating side and straight-laced face are only written in plain language. Only the author knows his true nature. I'm often surprised that the author, Murasaki Shikibu, was able to write such a complex and, in a sense, unpleasant man. Still, there are many readers who like Kaoru. ``The Tale of Genji'' and Murasaki Shikibu's ability as a writer are such that it brings out different emotions depending on the person who reads it.''
As a modern novel
A fully applicable volume, ``Wakana''
Tsunoda doesn't really like the ``Uji Ten Chapters'' because he dislikes Kaoru, but he thinks that the ``Middle Volume,'' which begins with ``Tamakazura'' and ends with Genji's death, ``is highly complete as a story.'' ``Genji entered his middle to later years, was promoted, built a mansion, had his wives live there, and his children grew up fine.It was a time when he could be called at the height of his prosperity, but he was burdened by the sins he was carrying. He is afraid of suffering, old age, and death. The middle volume conveys that Genji was a human being just like us, with a complex inner life."
Murasaki no Ue, whom Genji loved the most, is said to be a woman of impeccable beauty, elegance, and personality, but she was not blessed with children, and while Genji took in the children he gave birth to to other women and raised them, she grew jealous. Murasaki no Ue is also depicted with a more human touch in the middle volume.In particular, the upper and lower parts of Wakana are so complete that they can be taken as a whole. When Murasaki Shikibu wrote ``Wakana,'' you could feel that he had reached his full potential as a writer, and that his writing skills had matured. It feels like the methods of modern novels are already here."
The first volume, in which unique characters appear one after another and scenes unfold as various events occur, can actually be said to be a prequel full of foreshadowing. It is in the ``middle volume'' that the story comes to fruition. In that sense, it may be the middle volume that modern people can read and enjoy the appeal of The Tale of Genji as a novel. At the very least, by reading Genji Tsunoda, you can enjoy the fun of it to the fullest.


It is said that the detailed work involved revising what Tsunoda had written based on the advice of Japanese literature scholar Katsumi Fujiwara.
Worked on "Genji"
end of year
Where will your next journey take you?
Now that he has finished translating The Tale of Genji into modern language, which he has been working on for over five years, where will Tsunoda be heading next? Do you have any inkling that The Tale of Genji will have any influence on the works you write in the future?
``I don't really understand that yet. I couldn't find anything in ``The Tale of Genji'' that overlaps with my novel. However, as a same-sex writer, I can understand the harshness with which Murasaki Shikibu views women. I don't know if it influenced me yet, but now I feel anxious, wondering if I'll ever be able to write another novel. I guess you understand.”
Tsunoda's journey through The Tale of Genji has just ended, but we dared to ask him what he thought of the trip. ``I cried when I read the text that Natsuki Ikezawa, the editor of the Complete Works of Japanese Literature, wrote in the commentary for Volume 2.It was a lot of work, but I was really glad that I was able to work on this job. Ta". You'll have to wait until you read the second volume to find out what words are written. The journey of ``The Tale of Genji'' has ended, but Mitsuyo Tsunoda's journey as a writer still continues.


While working on Genji, I took a break from my own creation. He also won't know if he can write a novel until he tries.
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).


◆ “The Tale of Genji Volume 2020, translated by Mitsuyo Tsunoda” published February 2, 25
The first volume will be published in 2017, the second volume will be published in 2018, and the second volume, which includes the ``Uji Ten Chapters'', will be published in XNUMX. Set in Uji after Genji's death, ``Uji Ten Chapters'' depicts the love and sexual love between Genji's son Kaoru, his grandson Nioumiya, and the princesses, which emerges in the modern style of Mitsuyo Tsunoda. It is easy to read because of its natural translation that draws you in emotionally, and is said to be able to be read through even by those who have tried to read The Tale of Genji and failed many times.
“The Tale of Genji Volume 3,850, translated by Mitsuyo Tsunoda”, “The Tale of Genji Volume 3,500, translated by Mitsuyo Tsunoda”, both listed at 2020 yen (25 yen), “The Tale of Genji Volume 3,850, translated by Mitsuyo Tsunoda”, scheduled to be published on February 3,500, XNUMX, estimated price: XNUMX yen (XNUMX yen). Published by Kawade Shobo Shinsha.
“The Tale of Genji” special site http://www.kawade.co.jp/genji/
Text by Motoko Jitsukawa
Hair &Make Yosuke Nakajima (Perle Management)
Premium Japan Members invitation to
In addition to informing you of the latest information via newsletter, we also plan to inform you of exclusive events and give away special gifts.