The Dowry and Other Japanese Stories

The Dowry and other Japanese Stories is a translation of stories, literally handpicked from the Japanese sources for its universal appeal. The practice of Dowry, Divinity, Animal deity, lighting of incense in temple, priests etc. remain embedded in Indian mind set. These are quite akin to Indian culture and beliefs and draw the curiosity and interest of the readers. The same is true about each and every story of this collection. These Indian elements, presented in a different cultural dimension will bring out subtle similarities in the two cultures.

Anita khanna has been teaching Japanese language and literature at Jawaharlal Nehru University for nearly three decades. She has also been a researcher at Osaka University, Japan foundation Fellow and national Institute of Japanese Literature Fellow. She has authored books like ancient Japanese Literature, A Critical Survey etc.

This collection of modern Japanese stories displays reflections of Indian concepts and manners in a subtle yet definite way. As a student of Japanese literature, while reading the works in original, I came across a number of such cases. It encouraged me to translate some and offer as specimens of the long cultural heritage which we have shared with Japan.

Needless of say that these stories could have been dismissed as chance occurrences with little significance. However, considering the age-old culture relations between the two countries based on Buddhism, such reflections of Indian culture, obvious and subtle, do draw a reader’s attention and cater to their inquisitiveness. The translator felt the same while working on some of the classical works of Japanese literature; so she tried to find out the how and why of it.

Various pieces of modern literature evoke similar reflections though on a different scale. A selection of such pieces is presented here in translation. As the very title connotes, there is the presence of Indian elements, though presented in a different culture dimension and locale. I hope the readers can savour the Indianness of Japanese literature.