Workshops
Food in Contemporary Japanese Literature, a workshop for K-12 educators
We can learn so much about a culture through its food, and Japan has an exceptionally rich cuisine. This workshop offers an introduction to contemporary Japanese literature through readings that celebrate food. We will begin with a video featuring award-winning author Hideo Furukawa and his translator, Kendall Heitzman, discussing a chapter from his memoir Zero F, set in Fukushima after the March 2011 disaster. Next, we will look at popular Japanese literary genres, including manga, modern tanka poetry, the I-novel tradition, and zuihitsu. Then we will play with the possibilities of translation, using a tanka by Ainu poet Hokuto Iboshi, guided by notes from poetry translator Andrew Campana. Last but not least, we will brainstorm how these five readings could be used in the classroom. This workshop will provide guidance for teachers in K-12 who want to include contemporary Japanese writing in their curriculum or to focus on food writing.
Before the workshop, you will receive a PDF of the five readings. After the workshop, you will receive a print copy of volume 1 of the annual anthology MONKEY New Writing from Japan.