The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam invites Ms. Hachikai Mimi, one of the promising young poets/writers in Japan, to host the travelling lectures on Japanese contemporary literature and poetry in Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City from 20 – 24 March 2012.
Equipped with M. A. in ancient Japanese literature at Waseda University, Mimi has been actively working on writing, ranging from creations of poems, novels, texts for picture-books, translations of foreign picture-books, to reviews on literature and poetry, and lectures at public spaces.
Her first book of poems, Ima nimo uruotteiku jinchi [The Position That’s Being Moistened Even Now], published when she was a graduate student, won the Nakahara Chuya prize, one of the most prestigious prizes for poetry in Japan. Her second book of poems, Ku mono wa kuwareru yoru [The Night Those Who Eat Get Eaten], in 2005, won the Geijutsu Sensho Shinjin prize [lit. the New Face Award of Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for Poetry].
Mimi also has a collection of mini-essays, Kujaku no hane no me ga miteru [The Eyes on a Peacock’s Feathers Are Watching], 2004, in which she says, “When you are about to write a poem, the time and space an instant before the words come out are dense. Tightly packed. Quick, if you can, you think. But once you put it down on words, there’s something that falls between words and never comes up. Sometimes it’s something you deliberately throw away in an instant, sometimes it’s something you drop without meaning to that never comes back.”
She often alludes to classical Japanese literature and engages in wordplay. Her fine sensibility on words, equipped with academic research on ancient Japanese literature, convinces us of broadening the possibility of poetry and literature.
Her varied achievements on literature will assure you of the understanding of stimulating issues on the contemporary literature and poetry, as well as its modern history. We hope the audience will enjoy the intellectual discoveries. The lecture will be delivered in Japanese with Vietnamese interpretation. Admission is free. Advanced registration is highly recommended.
◆ PROFILE
Hachikai Mimi
Born in 1984
Poet, Writer, Essayist
Visiting Professor in Literature, Waseda University
M.A. in Literature
School of Literature, Waseda University
Selected collections of poems:
– “Imanimo uruotteiku jinchi” [lit. The Position That’s Being Moistened Even Now] (1999)
*Won the Nakahara Chuya Prize
– “Kuumonowa kuwareru yoru” [lit. The Night Those Who Eat Get Eaten] (2005)
*Won the new face award of Minister of Education Award for Literature
– “Kakusu Ha” [lit. Covering the leaf] (2007)
Selected novels:
– “Beni suisho” [lit. Rose Quartz] (2007)
*Nominated for the Noma Literary Prize
– “Tenshin” [lit. Transformation] (2008)
Selected collections of essays:
– “Kujaku no hane no me ga miteru” [lit. The Eyes on a Peacock’s Feathers Are Watching] (2004)
– “Sora wo hikiyoseru ishi” [lit. The Stone Attracting the Sky] (2007)
Selected picture books (for kids):
– “Esukarugo no yoake” [lit. “Snail’s Dawn”] (2006)
– “Ukiwa neko” [lit. “A Cat with a Swimming Ring”] (2011)
For more information, please contact at:
Ms. Nha (Ext. 115) / Mr. Yoshioka (0123-384-4138)
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam TEL 04-3944-7419 www.jpf.org.vn
