Yomiuri Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 76 (2024) award
Mariko Saito
さいとう まりこ
Saito Mariko
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1960-01-01 （Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese, Korean
- Residence History
- Niigata City (birthplace) → Seoul (studied at Yonsei University Korean Language Institute)
Career
- Occupations
- Translator (Korean–Japanese), Writer, Editor
- Active Years
- 1980-
- Influenced By
- Park Min-gyu, Han Kang
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meiji University | Faculty of Letters | History (Department of Geography; major in Archaeology) | — | — | Japan |
Meiji University
Faculty of Letters
/ History (Department of Geography; major in Archaeology)
Country:
Japan
Learned Korean in a university circle during studies and later studied at Yonsei University Korean Language Institute.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Japan Translation Award (1st) | Castella | — | Japan Translation Award Committee | 受賞 |
| 2020 | Korean Literature Translation Award (18th; Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Prize) | — | — | Literature Translation Institute of Korea | 受賞 |
| 2025 | Yomiuri Literature Prize (76th; Research/Translation) | Not Saying Goodbye | 研究・翻訳部門 | The Yomiuri Shimbun | 受賞 |
Japan Translation Award (1st)
2015
Work:
Castella
Organization:
Japan Translation Award Committee
Result:
受賞
Korean Literature Translation Award (18th; Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Prize)
2020
Organization:
Literature Translation Institute of Korea
Result:
受賞
Yomiuri Literature Prize (76th; Research/Translation)
2025
Work:
Not Saying Goodbye
Category:
研究・翻訳部門
Organization:
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
At the Center of Korean Literature
2022 Literary criticismAn essay collection examining contemporary and historical Korean literature from the perspectives of translation and reception. A revised edition was published in 2025.
Korean literaturetranslation studiescultural exchange
Hanging on a Book's Bookmark
2023 EssaysA collection of essays about books and reading, reflecting on experiences as a translator and reader.
readingtranslator's perspectivebook studies
Meeting People from the Neighboring Country: Between Korean and Japanese
2024 Language / EssaysThrough Korean and Japanese, this book discusses cross-cultural understanding and the practice of translation.
languagecross-cultural exchangetranslation practice
Portraits of Zainichi Korean Translators
2024 Edited volume / EssaysAn edited volume introducing the work, history, and networks of Zainichi Korean translators.
Zainichi Koreanstranslation historycollaborative work
Castella
2014 Translation (Novel)Japanese translation of Park Min-gyu's work, containing short and mid-length stories that portray urban life with humor.
urban lifegenerational themeshumor
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
2018 Translation (Novel)Japanese translation of Cho Nam-joo's novel addressing women's issues in Korean society.
gendersocial issuesfamily
Not Saying Goodbye
2024 Translation (Novel)Japanese translation of a work by Han Kang, depicting relationships and loss in a delicate prose style.
lossmemoryrelationships
Time of the Greek Language
2017 Translation (Novel)Japanese translation of Han Kang's work, characterized by unique metaphors and a serene narrative voice.
languagelonelinessaesthetics
Bibliography
- At the Center of Korean Literature (2022; revised 2025)
- Hanging on a Book's Bookmark (2023)
- Meeting People from the Neighboring Country: Between Korean and Japanese (2024)
- Portraits of Zainichi Korean Translators (ed., 2024)
- Castella (trans. Park Min-gyu, 2014)
- Ping-Pong (trans. Park Min-gyu, 2017)
- Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 (trans. Cho Nam-joo, 2018)
- Not Saying Goodbye (trans. Han Kang, 2024)
Translations by Author
- Castella (Park Min-gyu, 2014)
- Ping-Pong (Park Min-gyu, 2017)
- Time of the Greek Language (Han Kang, 2017)
- Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 (Cho Nam-joo, 2018)
- Not Saying Goodbye (Han Kang, 2024)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Clear, readable translationsDelicate rendering that respects the original's style and metaphorsEmphasis on notes and commentary to explain cultural/contextual background
- Recurring Motifs
- language and bordersintercultural dialoguefemale perspectives and everyday life
Legacy
An influential translator who has introduced many important works of Korean literature to Japanese readers, acting as a bridge between the two literary cultures. Her award-winning translations and critical writings have contributed to deepening translation discourse.
Trivia
- Her father is Bunichi Saito, emeritus professor at Niigata University.
- Her older sister is literary critic Minako Saito.
- She began studying Korean in a university circle around 1980.
- In 1991 she studied at Yonsei University's Korean Language Institute.
- In 2015 she won the 1st Japan Translation Award for her translation of 'Castella'.
- In 2020 she received the 18th Korean Literature Translation Award (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Prize).
- In 2025 she won the 76th Yomiuri Literature Prize (Research/Translation).