Maruya Saiichi
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Maruya Saiichi, 丸谷才一 (August 27, 1925-), is a noted Japanese author, and penname of Nemura Saiichi.
Maruya was mobilized into the Japanese Army in 1945 when still a high-school student. After war's end, he completed his high school studies in Niigata, then in 1947 entered the University of Tokyo to major in English literature. There he discovered James Joyce whose works became deeply influential in his writing. After completing his degree, he taught English at Kokugakuin University and then at the University of Tokyo. During this time he wrote a series of novels including Ehoba No kao O sakete (1958), Kanata He (1962), and Sasamakura (Grass for My Pillow, 1966). He also translated Joyce's Ulysses in collaboration with Takamatsu Yūichi and Nagai Reiji(1964), as well as Graham Greene.
In 1968 Maruya won the Akutagawa Prize for Toshi No nokori (The Rest of the Year). In 1972 he published Tatta hitori No hanran (Singular Rebellion), one of his finest works, for which he won the Tanizaki Prize.
His criticism and essays include Go-Toba In (The Retired Emperor Go-Toba, 1973), Nihon bungakushi hayawakari (A Quick Guide to Japanese Literary History, 1976), Asobi jikan (Play Time, 1976) and Chūshingura to wa nani ka (What Is the Chūshingura?, 1984).
[edit] Selected works in translation
- Singular Rebellion, trans. Dennis Keene, Kodansha America, 1990, ISBN 0-87011-989-3.
- Rain in the Wind: Four Stories, trans. Dennis Keene, Kodansha International, 1992, ISBN 4-7700-1558-5.
- A Mature Woman, trans. Dennis Keene, Kodansha International, 1997, ISBN 4-7700-2183-6.
- Grass For My Pillow, trans. Dennis Keene, Columbia University Press, 2002, ISBN 0-231-12658-1.
