New publication and translation

by Dr. Fujita-Round

The collaboration between island storytellers, artists, researchers and a language teacher has borne fruit. Three picture books have just been published and one more is coming in March.

Originally the project team of the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics (NINJAL) for documenting the endangered Ryukyuan languages started to collect the folklore as part of their research. Eventually the researchers together with an artist decided to utilize their research to help revitalise the language of each island. The budget was made possible by cloud funding in 2019, and Hituzi Syobo Publishing agreed to publish the four picture books.

Dr. Fujita-Round joined the project in 2020. As a Ryukyuan language researcher, she translated the old folk tales from Japanese to English, and then Mr. Round, an ICU High School English teacher, polished the English, so that islanders can learn the English language in the classroom and at home. Three of the picture books are presented in three languages: Ryukyuan, Japanese and English; The True Value of a Sho of Salt is presented in four languages: two local Ryukyuan vernaculars, Japanese and English.

・The Tale of the Beautiful Girl, Kannamaru Kuuruku (Tarama Island)

Story teller: Masako Nohara

Picture/Book design: Fumi Yamamoto

Hearing/Transcribing/Japanese translation/Annotation: Kayoko Shimoji

English translation: Sachiyo Fujita-Round & Rick Round

・A Tale of the Star-shaped Sand (Taketomi Island)

Story teller: Sumi Uchimori

Picture/Book design: Fumi Yamamoto

Hearing/Transcribing/Japanese translation/Annotation: Natsuko Nakagawa

English translation: Sachiyo Fujita-Round & Rick Round

・The True Value of a Sho of Salt (Okinoerabu Island)

Story tellers: Yukie Matsumura & Mihoko Tanaka

Picture/Book design: Fumi Yamamoto

Hearing/Transcribing/Japanese translation/Annotation: Akiko Yokoyama

English translation: Sachiyo Fujita-Round & Rick Round

Folklore annotation: Hatsue Nakawaki

Folklore supervision: Mitsunobu Sakida

・Dirabudi the Fisherman (Yonaguni Island)

　Rewriting old folklore: Etsuko Yonaha

Picture/Book design: Fumi Yamamoto

Hearing/Transcribing/Japanese translation/Annotation: Masahiro Yamada

English translation: Sachiyo Fujita-Round & Rick Round

They are available at Amazon and bookstores in Japan.

Photography: Hituzi Syobo Publishing