John Bester

John Bester (born 1927), born and educated in England, is one of the foremost translators of modern Japanese fiction. He is a graduate of the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies.

Works

* "Classic Bonsai of Japan" (New York: Kodansha International, 1989, ISBN 0870119338).

Translations

Among his translations are:
* "Masterworks of Ukiyo-E: Utamaro" by Muneshige Narazaki and Sadao Kikuchi (translation published in 1968).
* "Black Rain" by Masuji Ibuse (translation published in 1969).
* "Sun and Steel" by Yukio Mishima (autobiography, translation published in 1970).
* "The Waiting Years" by Fumiko Enchi (translation published in 1971).
* "The Anatomy of Dependence" by Takeo Doi (translation published in 1973).
* "The Silent Cry" by Kenzaburo Oe (translation published in 1974).
* "The Dark Room" by Junnosuke Yoshiyuki (translation published in 1975).
* "The Reluctant Admiral" by Hiroyuki Agawa (biography of Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy, translation published in 1979)
* "Salamander and Other Stories" by Masuji Ibuse (translation published in 1981).
* "" by Yukio Mishima (translation published in 1989).
* "Once and Forever, the tales of Kenji Miyazawa" by Kenji Miyazawa (includes Gauche the Cellist, translation published in 1993).
* "Confessions of a Yakuza" by Junichi Saga (reminiscenes of an Yakuza boss, translation published in 1995.

John Bester received the 1990 Noma Award for the Translation of Japanese Literature for "Acts of Worship". [ [http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200711030045.html] ]

References