Kathmandu, October 15
The Nepali translation of The Dancing Girl of Izu and Other Stories by Nobel Prize-winning Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata has been launched to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan.
Translated by Aruna Baidya, the book was launched at a programme organised by the Nepal Literature Foundation and the Nepal Academy in Kathmandu on Thursday.
Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Toru Maeda, who launched the book, said Nepal and Japan shared deep historical ties extending beyond diplomacy to cultural, literary and intellectual exchanges. He added that the growing number of Nepali students pursuing studies in Japan was further strengthening relations between the two countries.
Nepal Academy Chancellor Kumar Nagarkoti stressed the need for a government-level agreement to promote Nepali and Japanese literature in each other’s countries. He said the academy was committed to expanding literary translation between the two countries.
Former Nepali ambassador to Japan Madan Kumar Bhattarai said people-to-people ties between the countries began 127 years ago, preceding the establishment of diplomatic relations 70 years ago.
Baidya said the book contains four stories and that translating literature involves preserving the essence of the original work while doing justice to its stories and characters.
Speakers also highlighted the importance of making Japanese literature more accessible to Nepali readers and strengthening cultural exchanges through translation.
—RSS
