National Diet Library Newsletter
No. 174, August 2010
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Events related to the National Year of Reading in 2010
The year 2010 has been designated as the National Year of Reading by a resolution that was unanimously adopted by both chambers of the Diet (Japanese parliament) in June 2008.
Here are the events and exhibitions held by the National Diet Library (NDL) for 2010, commemorating this special year and hoping to enhance people's interest in reading and publishing. Please refer to the NDL website for the details of each event.
February 20 ・September 5, 2010 (International Library of Children's Literature: ILCL) 
Exhibition
"Children's Books Going Overseas from Japan"
Japanese children's books translated and published in foreign
countries, together with the Japanese originals, are displayed.
March 6, 2010 (ILCL)
Lecture
"When 'Hiroshima no Pika' [The Flash of Hiroshima] went overseas from Japan: experiences in the translation and publishing of Japanese picture books"
Ms. Akiko Kurita told anecdotes about the translation and publishing of "Hiroshima no Pika," and about the significance and difficulties of introducing Japanese picture books abroad.
April 17, 2010 (Tokyo Main Library)
National Year of Reading Forum
"Handing on Japanese language and culture to the future: Why is the library necessary?"
The possibility of the library as a base of reading activity and the culture of characters, and that of children's reading as a tool of handing down language and culture were discussed. This forum was co-organized with the Characters Culture Promotion Organization.
April 24, 2010 (ILCL)
Left: Japanese version
Right: English version
Lecture
"Translation is a triangle of collaboration ? the author and the translator of 'Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit' talk at length"
Ms. Naoko Uehashi, the author of "Seirei no moribito (English title: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit)" and its American version translator Ms. Cathy Hirano gave a conversational lecture about cultural differences between Japan and America and other experiences gained through translation work.
May 5, 2010 (ILCL)
"Enjoy Japanese language through a traditional performing art: Rakugo for Children"
A Rakugo storyteller, Kokontei Kikunojo, performed for children of elementary school age and up, and their parents.
June 17 (Tokyo Main Library)
June 19 (Kansai-kan)
"Macbeth" - Lecture and Reading: Event Celebrating the National Year of Reading
Theatrical group EN read Shakespeare's Macbeth and Prof. Akio Kobayashi (Faculty of Humanities, Sophia University) gave a lecture on this work.
June 17 ・July 20, 2010 (Kansai-kan)
Small exhibition
"Old bestsellers - what have the Japanese read and how?"
From the collection of the Kansai-kan, bestsellers from the Meiji era to the present and materials related to Japanese reading habits were displayed.
July 13, 2010 (Tokyo Main Library, Kansai-kan: Live Link)
Lecture
"Libraries and Reading in Germany and Europe"
Ms. Barbara Lison, former president of BID (Bibliothek und Information Deutschland), gave a lecture about the initiatives of libraries in Germany and Europe for encouraging reading, and had a discussion with Dr. Makoto Nagao, Librarian of the NDL. A summary of the lecture will be carried in the NLD Newsletter.
July 16, 2010 (Kansai-kan, Tokyo Main Library: Live Link)
Lecture
"Future of the Digital Library"
How do libraries deal with e-books and digital information? A lecture by Dr. Makoto Nagao, Librarian of the NDL, and a panel discussion with some experts were held to consider the future and possibility of the digital library.
August 21 ・September 12, 2010 (ILCL)
Exhibition
"Barrier-free picture books from around the world ・IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 2009"
50 works from 21 countries selected by the IBBY Documentation Centre of Books for Disabled Young People are exhibited. You can pick up and enjoy picture books with Braille and sign language, three dimensional cloth books with transformable dolls, and various other kinds of books.
September 7, 2010 (Tokyo Main Library, Kansai-kan: Live Link)
Lecture
"History and future of books and reading"
Prof. Roger Chartier of the Collège de France will give a lecture and have a discussion with Prof. Norihiko Fukui, President of the Gakushuin University, and Dr. Makoto Nagao, Librarian of the NDL.
September 15, 2010 (Kansai-kan)
October 22, 2010 (Tokyo Main Library)
September 18, 2010 ・February 6, 2011 (ILCL)
Exhibition
"The Golden Age of the Picture Book: 1920s & 1930s ・History's Message to Children"
October 9, 2010 (ILCL)
Lecture
"Picture Books of the 1920s: Their Message to Children"
October 20, 2010 (Tokyo Main Library, Kansai-kan: Live Link)
Symposium
"What is reading?" (tentative)
October 24, 2010 (ILCL)
"Enjoy Japanese Folktales: reading event for children and parents" (tentative)
November 27, 2010 (ILCL)
Symposium
"The Golden Age of the Picture Book: America and the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 1930s"
December 1-2, 2010 (Tokyo Main Library)
Symposium
"Enhancing the culture of reading and books in the digital age ・copyright as a means to foster creativity and access"
A two-day conference organized in cooperation with four international institutions and three Japanese institutions as a grand final event commemorating the National Year of Reading in Japan. For details, please see our website at http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/event/events/sympo1201.html.
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