Oldest Translation of Peter Rabbit Found in Japan
Beatrix Potter self-published "Peter Rabbit" in 1901 in England. A year later it was commercially published.
In less than four years a translation of the book apparently showed up in Japan eight years earlier than the previously thought earliest Dutch translation of 1912 and 12 years earlier than a 1918 Japanese translation published in a magazine.
A professor of English and American lit at Daito Bunka University and two fans found a 1906 version in a magazine published by Nisshusha, the predecessor to The Yomiuri Shimbun, when they were hanging out at the National Diet Library.
People do that sort of thing? Hang out at National Libraries and read magazines that are over 100 years old?
The 1906 version was titled "Otogi Shosetsu Itazura na Kousagi" (A Fairy Tale of Mischievous Little Rabbits)."
The translator was Jiro Matsukawa and the main character was called "Peta."
Illustrations and other names were clearly modeled on the original.
I saw the movie documentary of the film on a recent flight and quite enjoyed it…though I was never really a Peter Rabbit fan.
What does interest me though, is the fact that the book was first self-published.
There are a lot of writers who might like to know that bit of trivia.
Have you ever wanted to write a book?
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May 14, 2007
Why are significantly over weight anglo american teens, mainly males obsessed with japan and its culture? Also what is the deal with animated pornographic cartoons?
September 14, 2007
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Oldest Translation of Peter Rabbit Found in Japan
Bill Belew May 10, 2007
Know More: All about Japan beatrix potter, japan, japanese, library, national, peter rabbit, translation
Beatrix Potter self-published “Peter Rabbit” in 1901 in England. A year later it was commercially published.
In less than four years a translation of the book apparently showed up in Japan eight years earlier than the previously thought earliest Dutch translation of 1912 and 12 years earlier than a 1918 Japanese translation published in a magazine.
A professor of English and American lit at Daito Bunka University and two fans found a 1906 version in a magazine published by Nisshusha, the predecessor to The Yomiuri Shimbun, when they were hanging out at the National Diet Library.
People do that sort of thing? Hang out at National Libraries and read magazines that are over 100 years old?
The 1906 version was titled “Otogi Shosetsu Itazura na Kousagi” (A Fairy Tale of Mischievous Little Rabbits).”
The translator was Jiro Matsukawa and the main character was called “Peta.”
Illustrations and other names were clearly modeled on the original.
I saw the movie documentary of the film on a recent flight and quite enjoyed it…though I was never really a Peter Rabbit fan.
What does interest me though, is the fact that the book was first self-published.
There are a lot of writers who might like to know that bit of trivia.
Have you ever wanted to write a book?