author
Kuni Sasaki
1883–1964
A witty Japanese novelist, translator, and English literature scholar, he helped bring Western humor to new readers while building a literary career of his own. He is especially remembered for his long association with Meiji Gakuin and for translating Mark Twain into Japanese.
1 Audiobook
法螺男爵旅土産
by Kuni Sasaki
About the author
Born in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, in 1883, Kuni Sasaki became known in Japan as both a writer and a scholar of English literature. He studied at Meiji Gakuin, later taught there, and after World War II served as a professor at Meiji Gakuin University. Japanese reference sources also note that he taught at Keio University.
Alongside his academic work, he wrote fiction and gained a reputation as a translator. Meiji Gakuin highlights him as the translator of Mark Twain, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, a fitting match for a writer remembered for humor and lively storytelling.
That blend of teacher, translator, and novelist makes his work especially appealing for readers interested in early modern Japanese literary culture. His career connected Japanese readers with English-language literature while also giving them entertaining stories shaped by his own voice.