Tokyo: The life of a literary giant begins with home self-defense!

Chapter 295: "Tattoo" and "The Dancing Girl of Izu" (Part )
The rain in Tokyo is not as gloomy as that in Kyoto.

The cold air from the north meets the warm air from the south in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China, forming a quasi-stationary frontal rain that can last for a month or even longer.

The long rainy season could not dampen people's enthusiasm, and the Yasuda Auditorium at the University of Tokyo was packed with people attending the Tanizaki Junichiro Award submission conference.

Yasuda Auditorium is a landmark building of the University of Tokyo. Designed by Shozo Uchida, its facade resembles layers of connected mountains and can accommodate more than a thousand listeners.

Important academic conferences are often held here, as well as public events and cultural exhibitions.

At this time, under the hanging eight-diamond-shaped lotus leaf lantern, Kei Amuro from the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Education was also speaking.

Basically, the Tanizaki Junichiro Award is jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Writers Association to promote the advancement of traditional culture and so on.

"When did mother become interested in this kind of activity?"

In a corner of the Yasuda Lecture Hall, Takeda Akane looked at her mother who was sitting upright with some curiosity.

This afternoon, Takako Takeda suddenly came to her and said that she was going to attend the Tanizaki Junichiro Award submission conference at their school. She hurriedly turned down her afternoon class and went to pick up her mother.

Although Takeda Akane has a bad attitude in front of Ryukawa Toru, she is still a well-behaved and cute person in front of her family and friends.

"I have some personal matters to deal with."

The wife wore bright makeup and her bright red lipstick was quite striking.

She received a message from Ryukawa Toru at noon, asking her to come to the press conference to help him submit his work under the name of "Yasunari Kawabata".

"Xiao Qian, are you familiar with that Imamura Natsuko?"

The wife smoothed her wavy hair and frowned slightly as she looked at her daughter.

The call today by Ryukawa Toru was not made by himself, but by the granddaughter of Kujo Fujitaka.

The wife doesn’t know when their relationship became so good.

"Natsuko?"

Takeda Akane was stunned for a moment, then showed her unhesitating rejection in front of Takeda Takako.

"I know him, but not very well."

There seems to be a natural enemy conflict between beautiful girls. Although the two used to be in the same school, it is obvious that Takeda Akane doesn't like Imamura Natsuko.

She looks weak, but she is actually very arrogant. I have taken the initiative to talk to her before, but she never paid any attention to me.

It seemed that Natsuko Imamura had only one friend, Matsueda Kiko. Seeing her daughter's unhappy look, Takeda Takako nodded.

Although the affairs of the previous generation have nothing to do with this generation, the wife obviously wants her daughter to stay away from the Kujo family.

The mother and daughter were talking downstairs, and the government officials upstairs had just finished their official speech.

The University of Tokyo is a famous national university in Japan, where the relationship between intellectuals and the government seems to have eased slightly.

"Some people say that the Tanizaki Junichiro Award was established because of a Princeton academic delegation that was going to set up a project called "Research on the Reconstruction of the World Literary Nature of Classical Literary Works." Is that right? We have no other choice but to start a new wave of classical literature?"

The people in the audience have heard too much official language, and a reporter wearing an Asahi Shimbun badge raised his hand to ask a question.

This time, the Tanizaki Junichiro Prize came unexpectedly. Although it was aimed at the top academic and literary circles, it was impossible for no news to remain secret.

The reporters were eager to dig out more shocking news, and Kei Amuro, who was speaking on the stage, had cold sweat on his forehead.

Who let this person in? Is this kind of topic allowed?
This look appeared on the faces of government officials.

Fortunately, he had seen a lot of things in the world, so he calmed down and said:
"The Princeton academic delegation is preparing to start a new translation of The Tale of Genji, but this move has not received full support from the University of Tokyo."

Kei Amuro also avoided the main point, but someone soon interrupted him.

"But I heard that the author of the first Youth Award, 'Ryukawa Toru', is going to join the Princeton project team, and I heard that his research on classical literature has been widely recognized by scholars and professors." Widespread recognition is already very pleasing to hear. Amuro Kei also remembered that the report said that the essence of "Snow Country" may not be matched in the past hundred years.

"This"

The official who was speaking on the stage broke out in cold sweat again. He regretted coming to the University of Tokyo to give a speech today on behalf of Mr. Imamura.

Today, there are not only reporters but also media attending the press conference.

A large number of literati and scholars, who were rarely seen in the past, sat at the front of the Yasuda Lecture Hall.

Some of them have taught courses here, and some of them became famous in this country decades ago.

at this time.

These big names in the Japanese literary world watched the government officials hesitating on the stage, and one of them sighed and slowly walked onto the stage.

The scene became somewhat silent, for the man who came up on the stage was the one recognized as having the highest literary status in Japan.

“It’s hard to say whether Ryukawa Tetsu is the person who has done the most thorough research on classical literature.”

Ichitaro Miyako was wearing plain clothes and didn't look old standing on the podium.

He is different from ordinary old people. He looks very majestic when he speaks with his eyes open.

Ryukawa Toru once described him as a 'dictator', and at this time the vice-president of the Writers Association spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Education official.

Probably he would never have thought that there would be a day when he would cooperate with the town government. Gong Chengyi Taro looked at the more than 1,000 people in the audience and continued:
"The establishment of the Tanizaki Junichiro Prize not only promotes the development of classical literature, but also addresses the issue of modern translation of The Tale of Genji."

Princeton wants to reconstruct "The Tale of Genji" in a global way, but that is not what the old monk meant at all.

"Are you saying that Tokyo University also has a plan to retranslate The Tale of Genji?"

The reporter who asked the question just now was a little surprised.

Western universities are going to retranslate "The Tale of Genji", and the University of Tokyo is going to do a modern Japanese translation.

“Feels like you’re in a ring?”

A reporter complained.

The old monk glanced at the outspoken reporter calmly, then nodded calmly.

"You can think so."

Many of the words may seem arrogant to others, but the old monk said them just right.

“Princeton University believes that hiring Mr. Toru Ryukawa can do the retranslation of The Tale of Genji, but I think it would be more convincing if someone who won the Tanizaki Junichiro Prize did the translation.”

When one thing gives rise to two research teams, it is time to compare authority and academic recognition.

The Tanizaki Junichiro Award is themed on promoting traditional Japanese culture. In the words of Ichitaro Miya, it is an award that represents academic recognition.

"Will Mr. Ryukawa Tetsu's "Snow Country" be included in this selection?"

Someone asked a question from the audience, and Monk Hongping looked down.

"Mr. Ryukawa Tetsu is participating in the Group Portrait Awards. We have already sent him our invitation to participate."

Someone stood up and projected a document onto the screen.

"But before we talk about Mr. Ryukawa Toru's "Snow Country", I would like to ask you to take a look at Mr. Kaga's "Tattoo" first."

(End of this chapter)