![\"kawashima_prag0\"](\"http:\/\/www.internationaldiplomat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/kawashima_prag0.jpg\")
<\/a>Takashi Kawashima<\/p><\/div> Takashi Kawashima and Jean-Michel Wissmer at the Salon du Livre 2014 in Geneva<\/p><\/div> Doctor\u00a0Takashi\u00a0Kawashima\u00a0is\u00a0Professor\u00a0of\u00a0German\u00a0literature\u00a0at\u00a0Kyoto\u00a0University,\u00a0a specialist\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0work\u00a0of\u00a0Kafka\u00a0and\u00a0Johanna\u00a0Spyri.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0invited\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0Salon\u00a0du\u00a0Livre\u00a0in Geneva\u00a0where\u00a0he participated in a discussion on\u00a0the\u00a0reception\u00a0of\u00a0Heidi\u00a0in\u00a0Japan.\u00a0Jean-Michel\u00a0Wissmer, author\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0recently\u00a0published\u00a0essay\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0myth\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0of\u00a0Heidi,\u00a0took\u00a0part\u00a0with\u00a0him\u00a0in\u00a0this presentation\u00a0and\u00a0has\u00a0taken\u00a0the\u00a0opportunity\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0him\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0questions\u00a0on\u00a0this\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0love\u00a0story\u00a0\u00bb between\u00a0Heidi\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0country. JMW. Dr. Kawashima, how did you become interested in Heidi ? TK.\u00a0As\u00a0a\u00a0book-loving child,\u00a0I\u00a0read\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0of\u00a0Western\u00a0classics\u00a0of\u00a0children’s\u00a0literature\u00a0and\u00a0Heidi was\u00a0among\u00a0them.\u00a0But\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0grew\u00a0up,\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0shocked\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0other\u00a0people\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0totally different\u00a0image\u00a0of\u00a0Heidi\u00a0\u2013\u00a0because\u00a0they\u00a0knew\u00a0only\u00a0the\u00a0animated\u00a0cartoon\u00a0by\u00a0Isao\u00a0Takahata (1974)\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0only\u00a0the\u00a0original\u00a0novels\u00a0by\u00a0Johanna\u00a0Spyri.\u00a0That\u00a0is\u00a0why\u00a0I\u00a0got\u00a0interested\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0theme, namely\u00a0the\u00a0diversity\u00a0of\u00a0images\u00a0of\u00a0Heidi. JMW. Can you explain in a few words why Heidi is so popular
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\nDoctor\u00a0Takashi\u00a0Kawashima\u00a0is\u00a0Professor\u00a0of\u00a0German\u00a0literature\u00a0at\u00a0Kyoto\u00a0University,\u00a0a<\/em>
\nspecialist\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0work\u00a0of\u00a0Kafka\u00a0and\u00a0Johanna\u00a0Spyri.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0invited\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0Salon\u00a0du\u00a0Livre\u00a0in<\/em>
\nGeneva\u00a0where\u00a0he participated in a discussion on\u00a0the\u00a0reception\u00a0of\u00a0Heidi<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0Japan.\u00a0Jean-Michel\u00a0Wissmer,<\/em>
\nauthor\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0recently\u00a0published\u00a0essay\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0myth\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0of\u00a0Heidi<\/strong>,\u00a0took\u00a0part\u00a0with\u00a0him\u00a0in\u00a0this<\/em>
\npresentation\u00a0and\u00a0has\u00a0taken\u00a0the\u00a0opportunity\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0him\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0questions\u00a0on\u00a0this\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0love\u00a0story\u00a0\u00bb<\/em>
\nbetween\u00a0Heidi<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0country.<\/em>
\n
\nJMW. Dr. Kawashima, how did you become interested in Heidi<\/em> ?<\/strong>
\n
\nTK.\u00a0As\u00a0a\u00a0book-loving child,\u00a0I\u00a0read\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0of\u00a0Western\u00a0classics\u00a0of\u00a0children’s\u00a0literature\u00a0and\u00a0Heidi<\/em>
\nwas\u00a0among\u00a0them.\u00a0But\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0grew\u00a0up,\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0shocked\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0other\u00a0people\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0totally
\ndifferent\u00a0image\u00a0of\u00a0Heidi<\/em>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0because\u00a0they\u00a0knew\u00a0only\u00a0the\u00a0animated\u00a0cartoon\u00a0by\u00a0Isao\u00a0Takahata
\n(1974)\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0only\u00a0the\u00a0original\u00a0novels\u00a0by\u00a0Johanna\u00a0Spyri.\u00a0That\u00a0is\u00a0why\u00a0I\u00a0got\u00a0interested\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0theme,
\nnamely\u00a0the\u00a0diversity\u00a0of\u00a0images\u00a0of\u00a0Heidi<\/em>.
\n
\nJMW. Can you explain in a few words why Heidi<\/em> is so popular in Japan ?<\/strong>
\n
\nTK.\u00a0 There\u00a0 are\u00a0 many\u00a0 reasons,\u00a0 and\u00a0 you\u00a0 must\u00a0 distinguish\u00a0 the\u00a0 animated\u00a0 TV\u00a0 series\u00a0 from
\nthe\u00a0 novel\u00a0 Heidi<\/em>.\u00a0 After \u00a0the Second World\u00a0 War,\u00a0 this\u00a0 novel\u00a0 became\u00a0 very\u00a0 popular\u00a0 in\u00a0 Japan\u00a0 and\u00a0 countless
\ntranslations\u00a0were\u00a0published.\u00a0A\u00a0possible\u00a0explanation\u00a0for\u00a0this\u00a0is\u00a0the\u00a0rise\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0democratic\u00a0culture
\nafter\u00a0the\u00a0war,\u00a0based\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0strong\u00a0yearning\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Occident,\u00a0which\u00a0encouraged\u00a0Japanese\u00a0people\u00a0to
\nread\u00a0more\u00a0Western\u00a0classics.
\n
\nOn\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0hand,\u00a0the\u00a0great\u00a0success\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0animation\u00a0Heidi<\/em>,\u00a0Girl\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Alps<\/em>\u00a0is\u00a0due\u00a0to\u00a0the
\nspecificity\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Japanese\u00a0society\u00a0around\u00a01970.\u00a0At\u00a0a\u00a0time\u00a0when\u00a0the\u00a0post-war\u00a0economic\u00a0growth
\nslowed\u00a0down,\u00a0people\u00a0became\u00a0more\u00a0conscious\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0negative\u00a0consequences\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0rapid\u00a0economic
\ngrowth\u00a0(such\u00a0as\u00a0environmental\u00a0destruction),\u00a0and\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0ecology\u00a0boom\u00a0began\u00a0they\u00a0called\u00a0more\u00a0for
\ndifferent\u00a0values\u00a0than\u00a0economic\u00a0wealth.\u00a0The\u00a0world\u00a0depicted\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0animation\u00a0Heidi<\/em>\u00a0just\u00a0matched
\nthe\u00a0trend\u00a0very\u00a0well\u00a0:\u00a0The\u00a0director\u00a0Takahata\u00a0removed\u00a0the\u00a0Christian\u00a0elements\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0original\u00a0novel,
\nreplacing\u00a0them\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0animistic\u00a0religion\u00a0where\u00a0the\u00a0nature\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Alps\u00a0is\u00a0worshipped.
\nFurthermore,\u00a0 it\u00a0 should\u00a0 be\u00a0 noted\u00a0 that\u00a0 those\u00a0 who\u00a0 upheld\u00a0 the\u00a0 popularity\u00a0 of\u00a0 Heidi<\/em>\u00a0 were
\nprimarily\u00a0 women.\u00a0 Although\u00a0 Japan\u00a0 had\u00a0 joined\u00a0 the\u00a0 group\u00a0 of\u00a0 developed\u00a0 countries\u00a0 in\u00a0 terms\u00a0 of
\neconomic\u00a0 standards,\u00a0 its\u00a0 women\u00a0 were\u00a0 yet\u00a0 to\u00a0 advance\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 social\u00a0 scenes\u00a0 due\u00a0 to\u00a0 a\u00a0 still\u00a0 strong
\ninfluence\u00a0 of\u00a0 a\u00a0 patriarchal\u00a0 system.\u00a0 Heidi<\/em>\u00a0 had\u00a0 offered\u00a0 an\u00a0 optimum\u00a0 refuge\u00a0 for\u00a0women\u00a0living\u00a0in
\nsuch\u00a0a\u00a0repressive\u00a0social\u00a0regime.
\n
\nJMW. In Romandie, in the 1930s, Charles Tritten made new translations of Heidi<\/em><\/strong>
\nand added new sequels (Heidi jeune fille<\/em> ; Heidi et ses enfants<\/em>). Do the Japanese know those<\/strong>
\nversions and sequels (unknown in the German-speaking countries) ?<\/strong>
\n
\nTK.\u00a0Yes\u00a0and\u00a0no\u2026\u00a0Two\u00a0sequels\u00a0by\u00a0Charles\u00a0Tritten\u00a0were\u00a0translated\u00a0into\u00a0Japanese\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0year
\n2003,\u00a0but\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0retranslations\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0English\u00a0version\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Heidi Grows Up<\/em>\u00a0(1938)\u00a0and\u00a0Heidi\u2019s<\/em>
\nChildren<\/em>\u00a0(1939)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0which\u00a0diverge\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0French\u00a0originals\u00a0strikingly.
\n
\nJMW. Do you think many Japanese people see Switzerland as a \u00ab Heidiland \u00bb ?<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/a>
\nTK.\u00a0Yes,\u00a0I\u00a0think\u00a0so.\u00a0Many\u00a0people\u00a0\u2013\u00a0especially\u00a0women\u00a0\u2013\u00a0do\u00a0associate\u00a0Switzerland\u00a0with
\nbeautiful\u00a0mountains,\u00a0meadows\u00a0and\u00a0cheese,\u00a0an\u00a0image\u00a0derived\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0part\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0animation
\nHeidi<\/em>.\u00a0Of\u00a0course,\u00a0there\u00a0are\u00a0other\u00a0images\u00a0besides\u00a0\u201cHeidiland\u201d,\u00a0for\u00a0example:\u00a0Switzerland\u00a0as\u00a0a
\n\u201cpermanently\u00a0neutral\u201d\u00a0power\u00a0(which\u00a0in\u00a0Japan\u00a0has\u00a0an\u00a0extremely\u00a0positive\u00a0connotation),\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0very
\n\u201crich\u201d\u00a0country\u00a0and\u00a0so\u00a0on.
\n
\nJMW. Did you learn more by coming for the first time to Switzerland when invited to<\/strong>
\nthe Salon du Livre in Geneva, and has your image of Switzerland now changed ?<\/strong>
\n
\nTK.\u00a0Yes,\u00a0of\u00a0course!\u00a0My\u00a0image\u00a0of\u00a0Switzerland\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0that\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0relatively\u00a0\u201cclosed\u201d\u00a0society.
\nBut\u00a0here\u00a0in\u00a0Geneva,\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0many\u00a0immigrants\u00a0from\u00a0various\u00a0countries.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0feeling\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0Swiss
\nsociety\u00a0was\u00a0changing\u00a0rapidly.
\n
\nJMW. What is the importance of children\u2019s literature in Japan ? There must be<\/strong>
\nsomething else besides Heidi\u2026<\/em><\/strong>
\n
\nTK.\u00a0As\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0above,\u00a0Western\u00a0classics\u00a0of\u00a0children’s\u00a0literature\u00a0played\u00a0a\u00a0crucial\u00a0role\u00a0in\u00a0the
\nJapanese\u00a0society\u00a0after\u00a0the\u00a0war.\u00a0Although\u00a0young\u00a0people\u00a0today\u00a0tend\u00a0to\u00a0read\u00a0less\u00a0and\u00a0less\u00a0books
\n(as\u00a0everywhere\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0world),\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0still\u00a0get\u00a0very\u00a0good\u00a0translations\u00a0of\u00a0them\u00a0in\u00a0bookstores\u00a0and
\nlibraries\u00a0in\u00a0Japan.\u00a0Perhaps,\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0popular\u00a0among\u00a0them\u00a0is\u00a0the\u00a0novel\u00a0Anne of Green Gables<\/em>,
\nwhose\u00a0animated\u00a0version\u00a0again\u00a0by\u00a0Takahata\u00a0(1979)\u00a0also\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0huge\u00a0success.
\n
\nJMW. In the Western hemisphere we see Japan as a very traditional country ; is it still<\/strong>
\nthe case ?<\/strong>
\n
\nTK.\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0so.\u00a0A\u00a0great\u00a0change\u00a0has\u00a0occurred\u00a0since\u00a0the\u00a0end\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0war\u00a0\u2013\u00a0or\u00a0more
\ncorrectly,\u00a0since\u00a0the\u00a0Meiji\u00a0Revolution\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0year\u00a01868.\u00a0In\u00a0the\u00a0course\u00a0of\u00a0modernization\u00a0and
\nwesternization,\u00a0the\u00a0traditional\u00a0way\u00a0of\u00a0life\u00a0has\u00a0almost\u00a0totally\u00a0disappeared.\u00a0Today,\u00a0Buddhist
\ntemples\u00a0and\u00a0Shinto\u00a0shrines\u00a0belong\u00a0more\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0tourist\u00a0industry\u00a0than\u00a0to\u00a0our\u00a0everyday\u00a0life.\u00a0While
\nthe\u00a0older\u00a0generation\u00a0(born\u00a0before\u00a0the\u00a0war)\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0relatively\u00a0strong\u00a0religious\u00a0belief,\u00a0younger\u00a0people
\ndo\u00a0not\u00a0have\u00a0spiritual\u00a0centers\u00a0any\u00a0more.\u00a0That\u00a0is,\u00a0I\u00a0think,\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0main\u00a0reasons\u00a0why\u00a0Heidi<\/em>\u00a0with
\nits\u00a0spiritual\u00a0messages\u00a0gained\u00a0such\u00a0a\u00a0large\u00a0popularity\u00a0in\u00a0Japan.
\n————————
\nThe French version of this interview will be published on the website of the Institut suisse<\/em>
\nJeunesse et M\u00e9dias : www.ricochet-jeunes.org<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
+ Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[533,534,539],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-culture","category-des-arts-et-des-hommes","category-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2288\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}