Weekend Beat: New Japanese translations of world's classics are hitting bookshelves

Classics of world literature are making a big comeback. This fall, Kawade Shobo Shinsha will publish "Sekai Bungaku Zenshu," a new treasury of world literature and the first "limited edition" collection of world literature to come out in Japan in 18 years. Other world masterpieces are also getting makeovers. In recent years, numerous classics have been released in new translations that are doing extremely well.

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Traditionally, Iwanami Bunko revised its translations when a suitable translator turned up. That rule has changed. Now the company has a wide-ranging list of updated translations.

Said Chikao Shiojiri, chief editor: "There used to be a widespread notion that our paperbacks had small print and the translations were old-fashioned. But now we're hearing favorable comments about the smooth readings."

In a rare move, Shinchosha Publishing Co. decided to publish new translations of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" and Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita" in hard cover. The books quickly went into multiple printings. This month, the company will bring out a new hardback translation of Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca."

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Ikezawa explained his selection process: "I chose works that powerfully resonate with the way we live now. I was careful to pay attention to the geographical aspect and different social strata. The level of literary output has risen worldwide. Different nations are now capable of expressing their society through their own literature."(IHT/Asahi: June 2,2007)