A Fascinating Person
Tareko Hasegawa

The person who fascinates me the most is Professor Donald Keene of Columbia University . He studied Japanese literature for a long time and has translated Japanese classic novels like, “Taketori Monogatari”, “Okuno Hosomichi” and others. After the end of World War II, he first studied then introduced modern Japanese literature and notable Japanese novelists to the world. The point that fascinates me is not his translations …. I do not need to read them in English but I often read his essays or his newspaper articles and I have listened to his talks on television. I am impressed with his understanding of the country and people. He was a language officer of the US navy in war time and was assigned as an interpreter working between Japanese POWs and the US Navy. Despite his role, his eyes toward Japanese literature are the same as our eyes. His attitude toward Japanese culture is always with respect that comes from his modest personality and this is the most fascinating aspect of his personality for me.

Several years ago, he wrote and published a biography titled, “Meiji Emperor”. I had been thinking about doing some research on the work of my grandfather who had been a chamberlain of the Meiji Emperor. My grandfather's work was not only that of a servant but as an academic assistant as he was a scholar of Confucianism and the Meiji Emperor liked that doctrine. My grandfather passed away at a young age and his work and story has not been told much in my family and I wanted to know more about his life. After reading the biography, I was bold enough to write a letter to Professor Keene asking for his opinion and hoping he could offer some comments on my research. Within 10 days he sent me an answer in a letter which was full of kindness and thoughtfulness and in closing, he wrote, “Please forgive me for being unable to give more information or details.”

This precious letter in beautiful kanji reminded me of an article he wrote for the Asahi newspaper about 16 years ago. I dug it out from my clipping collection. The article was about a letter to him from Mr Yasunari Kawabata, a Nobel Prize winner. Professor Keene's article mentioned Mr Kawabata's calm kindness to a foreign writer. Especially, the kindness that came through the beautiful writing. A calligraphy brush style which must be hard to read for a non-Japanese. It's hard to read for Japanese. Professor Keene was touched because Mr Kawabata had not changed or simplified his brush strokes for the foreigner and he felt Mr Kawabata's elegant kindness and respect.

Donald Keene, Professor Emeritus of Columbia University , received the Order of Culture from the Japanese government for his work. It was presented to him directly by the Emperor on Culture Day, November 3 rd in 2002. The media has used the title, “Japanese Culture Researcher” or “Scholar of Japanese Culture” since then. He must be comfortable now as he was not comfortable to be called, “Japan Introducer” by the Japanese people for so long. I sent him a letter of congratulations and I am proud of the government for showing respect toward him after such a long time.