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Japanese Translation Workshop and Poetry Reading
July 26 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sunday, July 26, 2026 • 2:00 – 4:00PM • In Person • $0-$20
Join us at the museum for an afternoon of poetry with translator Naoko Fujimoto! Fujimoto’s latest book of Women: 20 Japanese Female Poets / 20 Waka Poems is a collection of translations of Japanese waka-poems from the seventh century to the twelfth century, featuring twenty female poets from this period, when Japanese women’s literature flourished. This book includes poems by famous writers from the era, such as Sei Shonagon (The Pillow Book) and Murasaki Shikibu (The Tale of Genji), and introduces some lesser-known female poets as well.
Waka compacts much information in a short form: words with double meanings, unfamiliar phrases, habits foreign to non-Japanese speakers, and hidden historical backgrounds. Direct translations would fail to capture the author’s full intent, so Of Women takes several approaches to capture the original sensory images, including text collage and haibun, short essays that provide historical context and introduce the author before each waka.
Fujimoto will begin the afternoon with a translation workshop at 2pm, guiding participants in creating their own English translations of a short waka poem. No prior experience or knowledge of Japanese is necessary. This workshop is most suitable for ages 16+ (ages 12+ welcome to attend if accompanied by a ticketed adult).
