Peter MacMillan is well-known for bringing the fascination of Japanese culture and classical literature to a global audience. His excellent Japanese and welcoming smile are his trademarks, making him a common face in Japanese publications and television.
In 2021, MacMillan began an ambitious, decade-long project: the full English translation of the Japanese waka collection, Manyoshu.
A journey through Japanese literature
During a period of uncertainty about his career, Peter MacMillan chose to translate the Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each) for the first time. Donald Keene, a well-known Japanese literary professor, praised his translation, which Columbia University Press released in 2008. The work earned translation honors in Japan and the United States, prompting MacMillan to seek a career as a translator.
Since then, he has translated other classical works, including Ise Monogatari (The Tales of Ise). He has also published books in Japan that give readers the opportunity to enjoy Japanese classics in English. Through his works, MacMillan offers new ways to appreciate these literary masterpieces.
Using English to Play Traditional Games
One of his innovative projects is an English version of Hyakunin Isshu karuta called WHACK A WAKA, designed to share the joy of Hyakunin Isshu with a global audience.
Similar to Hyakunin Isshu karuta, the set consists of 100 “grabbing cards” containing the second halves of the poems and 100 “reading cards,” each with a waka poem and an illustration. Because they are written as five-line verses with a focus on rhythm and flow, the translations are entertaining to read aloud.
Rising Popularity of Karuta
In March 2024, an English Karuta tournament was held in Kyoto’s Daikaku-ji Temple. It gathered international students from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), where MacMillan serves as a cultural instructor.
The purpose of the event was to broaden students’ knowledge of Japanese culture. They loved the waka storytelling and found the translated poetry to be beautiful. “Introducing Japanese culture through Karuta is ideal. Everyone who takes part gets hooked,” MacMillan claims. “My dream is to host a world tournament every year and, one day, see it become an Olympic sport.”
