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I am notorious for having a poor memory for books and films, but I remember my first Miura Ayako novel as though it were yesterday. I was nineteen, and after two years at an American university, I was back in Japan for summer vacation, visiting my family home. But I had lost contact with most of my childhood friends (this was before Facebook, and even before email!), and I was bored.
I rummaged through my father's bookshelf and was drawn to a certain book by its title: Hitsujigaoka (literally: sheep hill). The author was Miura Ayako. Hitsujigaoka is the name of the area in east Sapporo very near to where I'd attended international school. I began reading, and became so caught up in the book that I could hardly eat or sleep for the three days it took me to finish it. Like all Miura novels, it has a stunning ending. That was the moment I decided to pursue training as a professional translator. Back at college, I threw myself into my studies and began corresponding with Ayako. And for the past 33 years, in the breaks between the translating I do for a living, I have continued to translate and promote this author's works.
How did you first learn of Miura Ayako? Which of her novels impressed you, and why? Please share your story with me.
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I encountered her novels _Hyoten_ and _Shiokari Toge_ in a secondhand bookstore when in junior high. As I don't like tragic ending, I was shocked remember I repented having bought those books.
ReplyDeleteThen this week I was kindly introduced her triology _Michi Ariki_ and read them through as an Introduction of Christianity, in which I'm now very interested. I have seldom read essays, especially written by a woman, but I enjoyed them very much and revaluated her talent as an essayist.
Thank you @yukiwata for sharing your experience! It's true that many of Miura's novels have tragic endings. I think this is one reason why it is difficult to interest Western publishers in her works. But the tragic endings are there to make us think deeply about many things. Miura's books and essays are not meant only for entertainment. They have a message. Don't you think so?
ReplyDeleteYes, I do. I feel a message without an explicit answer. Thank you very much for reading and replying my poor English...
ReplyDeleteI also discovered Miura Ayako by reading Hyoten. I was in junior high as well and I could not put the book down. It was really exciting and I cried my eyes out! (I liked sad stories back then)
ReplyDeleteMika, thanks for sharing your experience. Have you read any other books by Miura since then?
ReplyDelete