Hiromi Kawakami and Asa Yoneda Discuss 'Under the Eye of the Big Bird' Amid International Booker Prize Nomination

Hiromi Kawakami's novel, Under the Eye of the Big Bird, has been shortlisted for the 2025 International Booker Prize. In an interview, Kawakami shared that the inspiration for the book came from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant meltdown in March 2011, highlighting humanity's struggle to control its own technologies.

Kawakami began writing the book three years after the disaster and spent over two years completing it. She emphasized the reflection time necessary for her creative process and continues to contemplate the book’s themes, focusing on human relationships and the future of humanity.

Her passion for reading was sparked by various myths, including Greek and Norse myths, and works like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, which taught her that stories possess infinite depth. Gabriel García Márquez's short story, 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,' inspired her desire to become a writer, although the subsequent reading of One Hundred Years of Solitude left her feeling initially discouraged.

Kawakami also recommended Matsuo Bashō's The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a significant haiku collection, as essential reading for English readers. She noted that Bashō elevated haiku beyond mere entertainment, imbuing it with profound meaning.

Asa Yoneda, the translator of Under the Eye of the Big Bird, remarked that the translation process took nearly a decade, during which the world underwent significant changes. She expressed hope that the current timing is serendipitous for English-speaking readers. Yoneda’s own love for reading began when she accidentally encountered Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle at a young age.

She first recognized the importance of translation through Maryellen Toman Mori’s work on Abe Kobo's Kangaroo Notebook, realizing the unique beauty of translated literature. Currently, she is reading Nicola Barker’s TonyInterruptor, which provides a captivating escape from the external world.

Yoneda recommended Royall Tyler's translation of The Tale of Genji, showcasing how narrative can intertwine with elements of language and form. She also highlighted Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur, as a noteworthy recommendation for translated fiction enthusiasts, pointing out the growing appeal of translated works among a new generation.