Japanese translator Mariko Saito sends essay to Korea, where she left her poetry

Mariko Saito, a Japanese translator and writer, has carved a unique niche in the literary world by dedicating herself to the translation and promotion of Korean literature. Though born in 1960 and having studied archaeology, Saito's deep connection with Korea led her to publish two poetry collections in Korean: 'Entry' in 1993 and 'A Single Snowflake' in 2018. These works, however, remain unpublished in Japan, as they were written in Korean.

“

I want to cherish the fact that poems were born in Korean at that time, even if they were clumsy.

Saito's journey with the Korean language began in her early 20s, and her first visit to Korea in 1982 solidified her desire to understand the country's reality, leading her to pick up Cho Se-hui's "The Dwarf." She has since translated 43 Korean literary works into Japanese, establishing herself as a leading advocate for Korean literature in Japan. Her recent accolades include the first Japan Translation Award in 2015 and the Yomiuri Literature Prize for her Japanese translation of Han Kang's "Farewell Evenings" last year.

“

I am no longer creating. I left my poetry in Korea.

Her latest endeavor is the co-authored essay collection, "The Chase of Words," written with Korean translator Jeong Su-yun. The book adopts a unique epistolary format, resembling a correspondence between the two translators. It delves into various aspects of Korean-Japanese literature, culture, language, translation, childhood, and socio-political issues, reflecting their shared experiences and intellectual exchanges. Saito's profound understanding of Korean culture is evident in her approach to translation, such as her meticulous rendering of Jeju dialect in "Farewell Evenings," aiming to convey not just meaning but also the distinctiveness of the language and its cultural context.

“

Translation is movement.