i moved into kinokuniya when i was in nyc a few months back. :) i must have spent about $400 there. *twitch*
the kodansha books are usually published in english translation for japanese people learning english, or for the occasional english-speaking traveller in japan. i know that norwegian wood was retranslated for the Vintage release, though Kodansha's translation was by Alfred Birnbaum and therefore couldn't have been that bad.
other than that I didn't see anything. at the moment they seem to have their main Japanese-language section (where I did see HM's books), and then a small English section that carries Japan-themed books you could order in just about any bookstore... mostly not imports. The Kodansha translations were only available as imports. A few years ago, before the Vintage NW came out, there was a pretty brisk trade in "my pal in Japan will pick up these books for you..." - which is the reason I know about this, actually.
Occasionally some of the Kodansha English-language versions of HM's books that have never been released in the US pop up on ebay or amazon z-shops or auctions. i've seen a few. they usually go for at least $50 though.
I think my favorite Kodansha paperbacks are their Kodansha International "Japan's Modern Writers" anthology series. Monkey Brain Sushi and The Mother of Dreams are the two I have, both very good & representing a wide spectrum! :)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: Sputnik Sweetheart
Date: 2001-06-15 09:47 pm (UTC)the kodansha books are usually published in english translation for japanese people learning english, or for the occasional english-speaking traveller in japan. i know that norwegian wood was retranslated for the Vintage release, though Kodansha's translation was by Alfred Birnbaum and therefore couldn't have been that bad.
other than that I didn't see anything. at the moment they seem to have their main Japanese-language section (where I did see HM's books), and then a small English section that carries Japan-themed books you could order in just about any bookstore... mostly not imports. The Kodansha translations were only available as imports. A few years ago, before the Vintage NW came out, there was a pretty brisk trade in "my pal in Japan will pick up these books for you..." - which is the reason I know about this, actually.
Occasionally some of the Kodansha English-language versions of HM's books that have never been released in the US pop up on ebay or amazon z-shops or auctions. i've seen a few. they usually go for at least $50 though.
I think my favorite Kodansha paperbacks are their Kodansha International "Japan's Modern Writers" anthology series. Monkey Brain Sushi and The Mother of Dreams are the two I have, both very good & representing a wide spectrum! :)