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Saori Nakajima

なかじま さおり

Nakajima Saori

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1961-01-01 （Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, French
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan → Suburbs of Paris, France

Career

Occupations
French literature scholar, Translator, Essayist
Active Years
1985-
Affiliations
Chuo University (part-time lecturer)

Education

Waseda University, Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Letters
Country: Japan
Undergraduate degree (graduated)
Gakushuin University, Graduate School of Humanities
Graduate School of Humanities / French Literature (Master's/Préparation)
Country: Japan
Completed the master's-level program (French literature)
Paris III (Sorbonne Nouvelle)
Comparative Literature (preparatory course) / Comparative Literature
Period: 滞在中（1987年渡仏以降）
Country: France
Completed doctoral preparatory course in comparative literature

Awards

Japan Essayists' Club Prize (54th)
2006
Work: Parisian Women Are Having Babies — Why Children Are Increasing in the 'Love Nation' France
Organization: Japan Essayists' Club
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Parisian Women Are Having Babies — Why Children Are Increasing in the 'Love Nation' France

2005 Non-fiction / Social commentary

A reportage-style essay examining French family values, childrearing and women's lifestyles to explore reasons behind France's rising birthrate.

French societyBirthrateChildrearingGender

A Paris Mama's 24 Hours: Work, Family, Self

2008 Essay / Reportage

An essay depicting the daily life of a mother living in Paris, exploring the balance between work, family and self-fulfillment.

ParentingWork–life balanceExpat life

Why Children Increase in France: The Lifestyle of French Women

2010 Non-fiction / Sociology

An analysis of factors behind France's birthrate based on French women's lifestyles and institutional contexts.

LifestylesFamily policyGender

Philosophizing Children: Education in France, the Land of the Baccalauréat

2016 Education commentary / Non-fiction

Introduces the French education system and the reality of the baccalauréat, considering children's thinking and educational culture.

Education systemPhilosophy in educationComparative education

Bibliography

  • Parisian Women Are Having Babies — Why Children Are Increasing in the 'Love Nation' France
  • A Paris Mama's 24 Hours: Work, Family, Self
  • Why Children Increase in France: The Lifestyle of French Women
  • Philosophizing Children: Education in France, the Land of the Baccalauréat
  • The Wonderful Story of Birth (co-translated)
  • Fantasy Literature (translated)
  • What's Halloween? (translated)
  • A Baby Is Born: The Adventure Trip of Life (translated)

Translations by Author

  • The Wonderful Story of Birth (co-translation)
  • Fantasy Literature (translation)
  • What's Halloween? (translation)
  • A Baby Is Born: The Adventure Trip of Life (translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Accessible essayistic reportageClear exposition grounded in academic expertise
Recurring Motifs
French society and cultureParenting and family policyEducation system and children's thinking

Legacy

Through writing and translation that introduce French society to Japanese readers, she has contributed to deeper understanding of parenting, education and family policy.

Trivia

  • Born into a family of French literature scholars: father Akikazu Nakajima and mother Kimiko Nakajima.
  • Her younger sister is novelist Kyoko Nakajima, a Naoki Prize winner.
  • Moved to France in 1987 and has since lived in the suburbs of Paris.