Discover Europe through Literature

Writers and translators from Europe join experts from Japan to participate in a variety of events including lectures, dialogues, and panel discussions. Through a wide range of activities, we aim to bring European contemporary literature closer to the Japanese public.

DAY123Thurs (National holiday)

MinamiazabuDelegation of the European Union to Japan

*Doors open at 11:00. Please allow time for security clearance.

*There are two rooms: the ‘Schuman Auditorium’ (seats 150) and the ‘Coudenhove-Kalergi Room’ (seats 40). Some events take place at overlapping times, so please take care to look for the right venue.

*A light buffet lunch will be served 12:30-13:30. People signing up for the 11:30 event are welcome to stay and enjoy the lunch. Those signed up for afternoon events may also join, if they arrive in time.

*The Opening Ceremony (17:30-18:30) will be followed by drinks (until 19:00). Everyone participating in the opening session are welcome.

1-1

Reading & Lecture: Rein Raud with Mitsuyoshi Numano

EstoniaEstonia

English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation

23 Thurs (National holiday) 11:30 - 12:30
Minamiazabu Delegation of the European Union to Japan Auditorium

Writer and scholar Rein Raud reads from and discusses his novel The Brother (published in English translation in 2016) with Professor Mitsuyoshi Numano, University of Tokyo.

1-2

Oeroeg: Yumiko Kunimori with Luk Van Haute

NetherlandsNetherlands

Japanese

23 Thurs (National holiday) 13:00 - 14:00
Minamiazabu Delegation of the European Union to Japan Coudenhove-Kalergi Room

Translator Yumiko Kunimori discusses her new translation of Oeroeg (translated into English as The Black Lake) a novel by Hella Haasse.

1-3

Reading & Lecture: Bianca Bellová with Kenichi Abe

Czech-RepublicCzech-Republic

English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation

23 Thurs (National holiday) 13:30 - 14:30
Minamiazabu Delegation of the European Union to Japan Auditorium

Bianca Bellová, winner of the European Union Prize for Literature in 2017, reads from and discusses her most recent book Jezero (The Lake, 2016).

1-4

Reading & Lecture: Leopold Federmair

AustriaAustria

Japanese (translation provided for readings in German)

23 Thurs (National holiday) 14:30 - 15:30
Minamiazabu Delegation of the European Union to Japan Coudenhove-Kalergi Room

Writer, translator, and long-term resident in Japan, Leopold Federmair reads from his latest book Monden. Der Wellen Schatten, and discusses his works.

1-5

Panel discussion: R.Zink, L.Van Haute, Natsuki Ikezawa

BelgiumBelgium
PortugalPortugal
JapanJapan

English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation

23 Thurs (National holiday) 15:00 - 16:00
Minamiazabu Delegation of the European Union to Japan Auditorium

Luk Van Haute (Belgium), Rui Zink (Portugal), and Natsuki Ikezawa (Japan) discuss the subject of compiling anthologies and literary collections.

1-7

The Birthplace as Model: Carmine Abate with Masatsugu Ono

ItalyItaly

English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation

23 Thurs (National holiday) 16:15 - 17:15
Minamiazabu Delegation of the European Union to Japan Auditorium

Italian writer Carmine Abate discusses the relevance of the birthplace in his works with Japanese novelist Masatsugu Ono.

1-8

Opening ceremony / Keynote speeches: Rein Raud and Natsuki Ikezawa

EUEU
JapanJapan

English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation

23 Thurs (National holiday) 17:30 - 18:30
Minamiazabu Delegation of the European Union to Japan Auditorium

Celebrating the first European Literature Festival in Japan with keynote speeches by prominent writers from Europe and Japan. The ceremony will be followed by drinks where guests might find the opportunity to speak directly with participating writers and translators.

DAY224Fri.

AkasakaGoethe-Institut Tokyo

* Maximum capacity: 90 people

* Inquiries about this venue should be addressed to Goethe-Institut Tokyo:
03-3584-3203  

2-1

Living by Addition: Carmine Abate, Italian writer speaking in German

ItalyItaly
GermanyGermany

German-Japanese consecutive interpretation

24 Fri. 15:00 - 16:00
Akasaka Goethe-Institut Tokyo Library

Having spent many years living in Germay, Carmine Abate is fluent in the German language, and on this day will speak in German on the theme of ‘Living by Addition’. Consecutive interpretation into Japanese provided.

2-3

Intercultural dialogue between two poets: Dieter M. Gräf and Shuntaro Tanikawa

GermanyGermany
JapanJapan

German-Japanese consecutive interpretation

24 Fri. 19:00 - 20:30
Akasaka Goethe-Institut Tokyo Library

Dieter M. Gräf and Shuntaro Tanikawa read from their works from various phases and periods in their career. In the subsequent dialogue, they exchange views on writing and creativity as a reflection of contemporary history. Moderator: Miho Matsunaga.

DAY325Sat.

DaikanyamaDaikanyama TSUTAYA BOOKS

* This event will be in Japanese only.

* Registrations should be made directly with Daikanyama Tsutaya Books:
・at the store (Bldg 1, 1st floor counter)
・by telephone 03-3770-2525

* Maximum capacity: 70 people

3-1

On Stanisław Lem: Toh Enjoe, Takayuki Tatsumi, and Mitsuyoshi Numano

PolandPoland

Japanese

25 Sat. 19:00 - 21:00
Daikanyama Daikanyama TSUTAYA BOOKS Event Space Bldg1, Fl2

Writer Toh Enjoe, scholar and literary critic Takayuki Tatsumi, and expert in Russian and East European Literature Mitsuyoshi Numano discuss the works of Stanisław Lem. The short film Przekładaniec (screenplay by Lem, directed by Andrzej Wajda) will also be screened.

DAY426Sun.

IidabashiInstitut français du Japon - Tokyo

*Registration will be available soon.

*Maximum capacity for Espace Image is 108 people

*Inquiries about this venue should be addressed to Institut français du Japon – Tokyo:
03-5206-2500  tokyo@institutfrancais.jp

4-1

Read and Greet: a Literary Lunch (entrance fees apply)

original language with translation

26 Sun. 12:00 (registration from 11:30) - 13:45
Iidabashi Institut français du Japon - Tokyo La Brasserie

Participants will enjoy a buffet lunch, while stopping in between servings to listen to readings by writers from Italy (Carmine Abate) and the Czech Republic (Bianca Bellová).

4-2

Promoting translation: market, grants, various opportunities

English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation

26 Sun. 14:00 - 15:15
Iidabashi Institut français du Japon - Tokyo Espace Images

Representatives from France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Japan present various initiatives available to facilitate translation and publishing of translations.

4-3

The Art of Literary Translation

English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation

26 Sun. 15:30 - 16:45
Iidabashi Institut français du Japon - Tokyo Espace Images

Translators and writers working in different languages discuss various aspects of literary translation. Participants: German poet Dieter M. Gräf, translators Shinichi Sakayori (German and Austrian literature), Mitsuko Ohno (Irish literature), Yumi Nishimura (Dutch literature), and Anita Nagy (Japanese literature into Hugarian). Moderator: Toshihide Kurihara (Italian literature) .