Sakura Momoko (in translation)

Because I didn’t grow up in Japan, I didn’t read manga or learn the names and characters of popular artists. In my late twenties, when I came to Japan for the second time, I watched animated programs like Nihon mukashi-banashi and Sazae-san. I watched the latter regularly and for the first six months, couldn’t see anything funny. Gradually I began to understand the personalities of the characters and occasionally chuckled. With Doraemon, my laughter came more quickly. When I discovered Chibi Maruko-chan, I caught on even faster.

I’m convinced that appreciating humor in another language and culture is difficult. It takes time and repetition to grasp what is funny. One has to learn the personalities of the characters, recognize the situations, and anticipate what will happen. When you can anticipate, then you’ll laugh at the outcome. Maruko, her family, and friends were easy to enjoy.

When an editor approached me about translating Momoko no ikimono no zukan, I was delighted. It’s a series of short essays for a magazine about “living things” from stag beetles to fruit flies to shirasu. Her subjects are things she had some reminiscence of. The editor planned to put these essays together in one book—and simultaneously publish an English translation in a companion volume.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I agreed to do it. It was a pleasure to enter her world of memories and try to convey that lightheartedness and warmth in English.

When the books came out, she kindly sent me a shikishi for me to give to my daughter. We all miss Sakura Momoko.

(262 words)