Louise Heal Kawai
@louisehk.bsky.social
Japanese to English literary translator, occasional actor, film and theatre fan, proud 浜っ子
The Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture just awarded me the Lindsley and Masao Miyoshi Prize for my translation of The North Light by Hideo Yokoyama. Thrilled that this rich and beautiful novel may now get the attention it deserves. Looking for a US publisher to buy the North American rights.
November 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
The Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture just awarded me the Lindsley and Masao Miyoshi Prize for my translation of The North Light by Hideo Yokoyama. Thrilled that this rich and beautiful novel may now get the attention it deserves. Looking for a US publisher to buy the North American rights.
Seicho Matsumoto wrote Point Zero (ゼロの焦点)in 1959. Unusually for its time the sleuth is a woman, investigating the disappearance of her husband. References to post-war occupation of Japan and its effects on women in particular make this a fascinating read. Of course as the translator I’m biased…
February 28, 2024 at 3:41 PM
Seicho Matsumoto wrote Point Zero (ゼロの焦点)in 1959. Unusually for its time the sleuth is a woman, investigating the disappearance of her husband. References to post-war occupation of Japan and its effects on women in particular make this a fascinating read. Of course as the translator I’m biased…
My first ever post on Bluesky…
Publication day for my translation of Hideo Yokohama’s The North Light.
I loved translating this look at Japanese architecture and history, with of course Yokohama’s signature touches of politics and mystery. Where is the family? And why is the house still empty…?
Publication day for my translation of Hideo Yokohama’s The North Light.
I loved translating this look at Japanese architecture and history, with of course Yokohama’s signature touches of politics and mystery. Where is the family? And why is the house still empty…?
October 12, 2023 at 8:27 AM
My first ever post on Bluesky…
Publication day for my translation of Hideo Yokohama’s The North Light.
I loved translating this look at Japanese architecture and history, with of course Yokohama’s signature touches of politics and mystery. Where is the family? And why is the house still empty…?
Publication day for my translation of Hideo Yokohama’s The North Light.
I loved translating this look at Japanese architecture and history, with of course Yokohama’s signature touches of politics and mystery. Where is the family? And why is the house still empty…?