Donald Keene Center Kashiwazaki
Author: Richard Perkins
Photos/Videos Taken: 2024/06/17
Address: 10-17 Suwa-cho, Kashiwazaki-shi,
Niigata,【945-0063】
Admission Fee: Adult ¥500・(group) ¥400 |
Middle School Student ¥200・(group) ¥160 |
Elementary School Student ¥100・(group) ¥80｜
Anyone Younger Free
The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan and the number of foreigners seeking employment in Japan are increasing rapidly. Abroad, Japanese food, Japanese cartoons, and so on have become increasingly popular. Through such media, many foreigners have become interested in Japanese culture. Many of these people come to Japan to study and learn more about the country. Whatever the purpose, it doesn’t seem that the number of foreigners coming to Japan will decrease soon. Japan is slowly becoming a country with a growing number of foreigners, but this wasn’t always the case. Japan hasn’t always been a country that tries to bring in as many foreigners as possible each year. Japan was once a country that used to ban foreigners altogether. In the Edo period (1603-1868), foreigners weren’t allowed to enter the country. Even in the Meiji period (1868-1912), when the ban on foreigners was lifted, the number of foreigners in Japan didn’t suddenly increase. For a long time, Japan was a country that wasn’t very well-known; it was a country that was shrouded in mystery. Despite this, some foreigners became interested in Japanese culture. Despite Japan becoming the enemy to many during the war, some foreigners wanted to learn more about Japanese culture. Some foreigners have gone as far as to fall in love with Japan. Despite what the situation between Japan and the rest of the world may have been, one man who always loved Japan was the American Donald Keene.
Donald Keene unfortunately passed away in 2019. It’s said that he was the last Japanophile to have experienced a world war. Donald Keene was passionate about Japanese literature. He spent his life translating the works of famous Japanese authors, including Osamu Dazai and Yukio Mishima. Through these translations, he showed the world just how fantastic Japanese literature is. In both English and Japanese, he also wrote numerous books about Japan. Through these books, you see Japan through his eyes and hear what he thought made Japan such a great country. By reading any one of those books, one will understand just how much he loved Japan. This interesting Japanophile was someone who experienced a lot throughout his life. What sort of life specifically did Donald Keene live? What exactly were the contents of his books? At the “Donald Keene Center Kashiwazaki” in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, one can learn about this American who loved Japan with all his heart.
As mentioned above, Donald Keene was a Japanophile who experienced war. During WWII, he learned the Japanese language. He was eventually given the task of translating journals written by the Japanese. At the Donald Keene Center Kashiwazaki, you can learn about the many experiences Donald Keene had during the war. You can also learn about some of the most vivid memories he had about it. During the war, the more time went on, the more interested he became in this country that was seen as his enemy. When learning about Donald Keene’s feelings towards Japan during the war, many will (no doubt) be greatly surprised. Most Americans didn’t like the Japanese at this point, with many trying to forget the Japanese language as quickly as possible when the war was over. This museum shows just how interesting this particular Japanophile was; everybody will (undoubtedly) want to learn more about him after just one visit. Donald Keene was well-known for translating novels by various famous Japanese authors. These books are on display here, and many of them were translated at a time when Japan wasn’t so well-known abroad (at least in comparison with nowadays).
The highlight of the Donald Keene Center Kashiwazaki is (undoubtedly) the replica of the apartment where Donald Keene lived in New York City. This is the only area of the museum where photography is allowed. The replica apartment is said to have been created by the same team that worked on the sets for the Japanese movie "Always: Sunset on Third Street”. The craftsmanship of the apartment is so impressive that it truly feels as though you have stepped into Donald Keene's New York City residence.
Many may know this, but Donald Keene became a Japanese citizen after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Donald Keene was in his New York City apartment when he first saw the images of the earthquake and tsunami. The actual television used to watch those images and news reports is on display here. Not only that, but several suits he used to wear can also be seen here.
Not just fans of Donald Keene, but all who visit the Donald Keene Center Kashiwazaki will have a great time. This Japanophile shared Japanese literature with the world, making its significance clear. If not for him, many Japanese authors might not be as well-known and well-renowned worldwide as they are today. Not only did Donald Keene spend his last years in Japan, but (as mentioned above) he also took up Japanese citizenship. For those who’d like to “get off the beaten track” and learn about an American who made Japanese literature as popular across the globe as it is now, the Donald Keene Center Kashiwazaki is one place worth a visit.
