Abstract
This paper aims to explore the history of Japanese translations of works of James Joyce. As a result of the intense westernization since the mid-nineteenth century, numerous masterpieces of European literature have been translated into Japanese. In the process of resistance against the Great Powers, Japanese people have had a great sympathy with Ireland struggling to be independent from the British Empire and become interested in the Irish Literary Revival. The Japanese finally found James Joyce. Many Japanese have challenged themselves to translate his profound works into Japanese as the results of their sincere studies. The chronology of Japanese translations of Joyce’s works clearly indicates how many Japanese have earnestly endeavored to understand his works. It is also noted that Joyce knew some Japanese translations, especially concerning Ulysses, which stimulated his interest in the Japanese language enough to describe his learning outcome with English translations in Finnegans Wake.
Keywords
James Joyce; Japan; Japanese Translations;
Ulysses
;
Finnegans Wake