Very entertaining diary/commentary by the translator of the Genji, describing his experience of translating and his jaundiced comments on US campus life of the 1960s ( )

This is a diary of Seidensticker's for the time he was working on translating the tale of Genji. Very interesting stuff, and worth reading for translators and Japan people, for the short synopsis.

This book accomplished a fair number of things for me, many of which would require a large change in my life to really accomodate. First and foremost, it kinda made me want to read the Tale of Genji, which I know a lot about but have only read select portions of. He describes it in a way that actually makes it seem approachable and readable. Not an easy task, but maybe I should try it; it's probably better than I remember it, and it may be a matter of the translator I have. I have heard the opinion that the Tyler one is bad, and that I should try the Seidensticker one. Fair enough; I was fine with the McCullough I read, and she's my favorite classical translator, so we can try another.

It also made me want to go to Japan again; Seidensticker's observations about the place are wry and evocative, and he pays both attention to the natural stuff, and to the vagaries of Tokyo. There's a lot of comparisons of Tokyo in the early 1970's, when the diary was written, and Tokyo in the early 1950s, when Seidensticker was first there. And I compare all of it to when I was there, and it's fascinating.

Also, it made me want to translate more. He's very good with evoking the problems and the rewards, and the feelings that go along with it, and I empathized greatly.

The man himself must be quite interesting. It'd be cool to meet him; he's snarky, witty, and principled, and somewhat crotchety at times, and it's all fun. I like the way he writes, and the way he aims to provoke reactions sometimes. I really felt it from an episode early in the book where he's in a bad mood at the market, and a war protestor comes up to him offering "Peanuts for Peace," to which he replies, "I am a warmonger." Then Seidensticker says oh, how delightful as the protestor's peace-loving eyes filled up with hatred and a longing to hit Seidensticker, and he concludes with, "So I suppose I had a good time at the market after all." I'd probably love him.

So, yes. Very enjoyable book. ( )