The Reception of Japanese Literature in Thailand: Focusing on the Case Study of Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s literary works

• Main Author: Namthip METHASATE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Global Institute for Japanese Studies, Korea University 2018-12-01
• Series: Gwagyeong Ilboneo Munhak Yeongu
• Subjects: Japanese Literature; Reception; Translation; Ryunosuke Akutagawa; Adaptation
• Online Access: https://www.bcjjl.org/upload/pdf/bcjjlls-7-1-113.pdf

This study discusses the reception of Japanese literature in Thailand. It first presents an overview of the history of translation through four periods：the first period (1950s-1970s), when most translated works were modern novels whose authors were popular in Western countries; the second period (1980s-1990s), when children’s literature was on the rise; the third period (2000s), when contemporary literature boomed; and the fourth period of alternative consumption and reproduction (2010s), which saw a dramatic increase in the number of readers along with variations of interests. Specific examples of how Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s literary works have been reproduced and adapted in Thailand are explored through a case study.