Landscapes of Franco-Japanese Translation: 
History, Theories and Practices

Speaker: Cécile Sakai

After presenting a historical overview of 150 years of interconnected relationships through the translations of French works in Japan and Japanese works in France, Cécile Sakai will examine how, in the face of the major cultural shifts experienced in the first quarter of the 21st century, both theoretical thinking and the practices of translators are evolving.
The digital environment, particularly the rapid advances in AI, requires responses that are both appropriate and ethical. Beyond language proficiency, mastery of translation techniques remains an essential prerequisite for overcoming competition and shaping a future for humanity.

Cécile Sakai is Professor Emeritus at Paris Cité University, an Associate Researcher at the CRCAO, and a specialist in modern and contemporary Japanese literature. Author of Kawabata le clair-obscur (PUF, 2001, expanded reprint 2014), she also co-edited, with Nao Sawada, Pour une autre littérature mondiale – La traduction franco-japonaise en perspective (Picquier Editions, 2021). She has translated around thirty Japanese works by Kawabata Yasunari, Tanizaki Junichirô, Kôno Taeko, and others.

Date and Time: Tuesday, November 4, 6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Institut français du Kansai (Kyoto), Inabata Room
Free admission

Registration required: https://cecile-sakai.peatix.com/
※In case of cancellation, please always notify in advance.

Languages: French, consecutive translation into Japanese

※This event is organized as part of the Feuilles d'Automne 2025 French literature festival.
https://culture.institutfrancais.jp/fr/event/festivalfeuillesdautomne_2025



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