Food in Contemporary Japanese Literature,
An NCTA Workshop for K–12 Educators
Resource Page
Food in Contemporary Japanese Literature: An NCTA Workshop for K–12 Educators, held on October 25, 2023, that offered an introduction to contemporary Japanese literature through readings that celebrate food. It began with a video featuring award-winning author Hideo Furukawa and his translator, Kendall Heitzman, discussing a chapter from his memoir Zero F, set in Fukushima after the March 2011 disaster. Next, it looked at popular Japanese literary genres, including manga, modern tanka poetry, the I-novel tradition, and zuihitsu. Lastly, it concluded with the possibilities of translation, using a tanka by Ainu poet Hokuto Iboshi, guided by notes from poetry translator Andrew Campana. This workshop provided guidance for teachers in K-12 who want to include contemporary Japanese writing in their curriculum or to focus on food writing.
The resources included on this page are:
- Readings, Activities and Further Resources discussed during the Workshop
- Videos of the Workshop Lectures (divided into two parts)
- Clips of the interview between Motoyuki Shibata and Kendall Heitzman
Workshop Resources
Workshop Presentations
Presentation Part 1
Program Introduction and a Discussion on Hideo Furukawa, a Japanese Contemporary Author,
with Motoyuki Shibata, Founder of MONKEY Literary Journal, and Professor Kendell Heitzman
Presentation Part 2
Japanese Literary Genres Today: A Short Introduction
with Meg Taylor, Editor of MONKEY Literary Journal.
Presentation Slides
Presentation Part 3
The Art of Translation: Utilizing Translation in the Classroom with Ainu Tanka Poetry
with Anne Gerbner, Educational Consultant and Teacher
Presentation Slides
Workshop Interview Clips
A Discussion with Motoyuki Shibata and Kendall Heitzman - Part 1:
3/11 Triple Disaster and Its Impact on the Writings of Hideo Furukawa
A Discussion with Motoyuki Shibata and Kendall Heitzman - Part 2:
A Reading from Hideo Furukawa's "The Little Woods in Fukushima"
A Discussion with Motoyuki Shibata and Kendall Heitzman - Part 3:
Notes on the Translation of "The Little Woods in Fukushima, " a Chapter from the Hideo Furukawa's novel, Zero F