British Children’s Literature in Japanese Culture

Description

Whether watching Studio Ghibli adaptations of British children’s books, visiting Harry Potter sites in Britain or eating at Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurants in Tokyo, the Japanese have a close and multifaceted relationship with British children’s literature. In British Children’s Literature in Japanese Culture, the first comprehensive study to explore this engagement, Catherine Butler considers its many manifestations in print, on the screen, in tourist locations and throughout Japanese popular culture.

Taking stock of the influence of literary works such as Gulliver’s Travels, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Tom’s Midnight Garden, and the Harry Potter series, this lively account draws on literary criticism, translation, film and tourist studies to explore how British children’s books have been selected, translated, understood, adapted and reworked into Japanese commercial, touristic and imaginative culture. Using theoretically informed case studies this book will consider both individual texts and their wider cultural contexts, translations and adaptations (such as the numerous adaptations of British children’s books by Studio Ghibli and others), the dissemination of distinctive tropes such as magical schools into Japanese children’s literature and popular culture, and the ways in which British children’s books and their settings have become part of the way that Japanese people understand Britain itself.

In this book launch for the paperback edition, Catherine Butler will introduce the book and talk about the interests and discoveries that led to its writing. There will be a Q&A session with the audience, and copies on sale (guests will receive a special 40% discount and can purchase the book for £15) after the talk.

Date

Location

Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
Daiwa Foundation Japan House
13/14 Cornwall Terrace (Outer Circle)
London
NW1 4QP

Prices

Contact and Booking Details

More information at this website.

Reserve tickets at this website

Disclaimer

The information and prices in this listing are presumed to be correct at the time of publishing, but please always check with the venue before making a special trip.

All images are supplied by the exhibition organiser.