Abstract

This paper deals with the translation and publication of Canadian writer Margaret Atwood's works in Japan. Between 1989 and 2008, fifteen of Atwood's novels, essays, and collections of short stories and poetry were published in Japanese translation; however, few of these works found a wide readership. Through interviews and data analyses, this research seeks to ascertain the publishing processes of these translations and understand the positions of the translators and editors bringing Atwood's works to the Japanese public. As agents of production, Atwood's translators and editors were involved in creating what Bourdieu calls symbolic value in the Japanese field of literary production. In particular, the translators' unique position in the field allows them to participate actively in creating symbolic value, notably through selecting works and writing afterwords.