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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• Japanese Literature
• Reception
• Translation
• Ryunosuke Akutagawa
• Adaptation