News & events > YOMU Asian Literature Project - follow the latest discussions on Southeast Asian literature
30 Nov 2021

YOMU Asian Literature Project - follow the latest discussions on Southeast Asian literature

The Japan Foundation Asia Center has launched the Asian Literature Project 'YOMU', introducing the literature and literary scenes of Southeast Asian countries. At the start of the project, translators, editors and publishers gathered online to talk about the Asian literary situation and Asian literature from a bird's-eye view of the global literary market. 

While touching on the Korean literature situation, which has become a big boom in Japan due to the dramatic increase in the number of Japanese translations in recent years, the participants consider the contemporary position of Southeast Asian literature, issues related to translation and publishing, and future market possibilities. Taking part were:

Wataru Fuku (Translator, Thai literature)

Tsuyoshi Oikawa (Translator, Malaysian Literature)

Kim Jowa (Representative of-Co Ltd. Korean literature)

Koji Close (Tran Net Co Ltd.)

You can read the transcripts of the discussions between the literature professionals presented in two parts: 

Discussion meeting ′′ from Southeast Asian literature - connecting writers and readers ′′

First part https://jfac.jp/.../features/f-yomu-round-table-talk-1/...

Part 2 https://jfac.jp/.../features/f-yomu-round-table-talk-2/...