ICR Tokyo continues its “Literary Dialogues” series on February 21, starting at 5:30 p.m., offering a captivating exploration of the cultural and literary diversity of Romania and Japan. The event, hosted by the Romanian Embassy in Tokyo, brings together writers from different generations and backgrounds, facilitating an exchange of ideas about the contemporary literary landscape in both countries.
The discussions will cover topics of interest to readers, authors, and publishers alike, such as the book market in Romania and Japan, the publishing process in both cultural contexts, readers’ preferences, and the impact of award-winning books. At the same time, the event offers the opportunity to hear excerpts from the works of Romanian writers based in Japan, such as George Moise and Sabina Yamamoto, as well as from Japanese authors who write in Romanian, including Tettyo Saito and Yashinori Sato.
Drawing on their experience of living between two worlds—the European and the Japanese—the guests will discuss the ways in which these seemingly contrasting cultures can intertwine and enrich one another. The discussion will analyze the methods writers can use to attract the attention of readers in both countries and explore ways to promote Romanian literature in Japan and vice versa.
The event on February 21 will feature special guests George Moise, Yashinori Sato, and Tettyo Saito, who will share with the audience their perspectives on literature, translation, and the reception of written texts in an intercultural context. “Literary Dialogues” promises an evening of reflection on the role of literature in bringing peoples closer together and in strengthening cultural bridges between Romania and Japan.
George Moise has been living in Japan since 2008. He made his literary debut in 2011 at Curtea Veche with *Forgive Me for Not Being Japanese*, a journal of adaptation (or maladjustment) in Japan. He has also published short stories in the anthology *Letters from Cipangu* (Editura Trei, 2016) and in the magazine *Iocan* (Vellant, 2016, 2019). His latest novel, *Kanashibari: Half-Dreamed Japanese Stories*, was also published by Curtea Veche in 2023. He is currently working on a new novel, which will be unveiled for the first time at this event.
Mr. Tettyo Saito, a Japanese writer who writes in Romanian, born in 1992 in Ichikawa, Chiba, writes film reviews and essays in Japanese, as well as short stories and poetry in Romanian. Some of his works have been featured in Romanian literary magazines such as LiterNautica and Planeta Babel. Well-known in Romania, he has given interviews to Libertatea and published a history of Romanian literature in 2021 titled “A History of Modern Romanian Literature: 1990–2020.” He learned Romanian through online platforms, with the help of his Romanian friends, and by watching Romanian films.
Mr. Yashinori Sato—a Japanese writer who writes in Romanian—is the author of the novel *Memories of Youth*, written in Romanian, edited by Cornelia Raluca Sekiguchi, and published by Yubunsha Co., Ltd. He works in the Department of History at Tohoku Gakuin University. He has collaborated with Prof. Shingo Suzuki (linguist and translator) from TUFS.
The “Literary Dialogues” series aims to facilitate cultural dialogue, involve local artists in discovering Romanian creators, and promote Romanian and Japanese literary works in cultural circles in both countries. Additionally, the event offers the Japanese public the opportunity to discover excerpts from the works of contemporary Romanian writers living in Japan.
During the discussions, participants will explore ways to capture the interest of audiences in Romania and Japan, as well as strategies for promoting literary works in both cultural spheres. The invited writers will share their experiences and methods for contributing to the dissemination of Romanian literature in Japan and vice versa.
