author
Asataro Miyamori
1869–1952
Best known for bringing Japanese literature to English-language readers, this scholar and translator opened a window onto samurai tales, drama, and poetry. His books still feel like invitations into a rich literary world that many readers were encountering for the first time.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in 1869 and dying in 1952, Asataro Miyamori was a Japanese scholar, translator, and teacher of English. Sources from LibriVox and Project Gutenberg describe him as a professor of English in Tokyo, with references connecting him to both Keio University and Toyo University, so it is safest to say he taught English at the university level and became known for introducing Japanese literature to readers in English.
His best-known books include Tales from Old Japanese Dramas (1915), Tales of the Samurai (1920), and An Anthology of Haiku Ancient and Modern (1932). Across these works, he focused on translating and retelling Japanese drama, warrior stories, and poetry in a way that made them approachable for international audiences.
Miyamori’s lasting appeal comes from that bridge-building role. He helped carry classic Japanese storytelling beyond Japan, giving English-language readers access to traditions of bushido, theatrical literature, and haiku through clear, enthusiastic interpretation.