Mari Koch Murray

Thesis title: A translation with commentary of Saito Chiho’s manga series 'Torikae baya'

Biography

Background

I began studying Japanese on the MA Hons programme at Edinburgh, which also took me to Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto for one year. After graduating, I went to the Kyoto area again to live and work. I spent over four years in Japan, where I taught English and studied audiovisual translation, before returning to Edinburgh to begin postgraduate study. For my MScR research, I investigated a project in which members of an international fan community for the anime series 'Revolutionary Girl Utena' were involved in translation decisions for a new North American release of the series.

Interviewing fans about their experiences and motivations inspired the direction of my current PhD project, which revolves around translating Saito Chiho's 2012-2017 manga series 'Torikae baya'. During my time on the PhD programme, I have taken part in the British Centre for Literary Translation's summer school programme and participated in a Classical Japanese reading group.

I am also a freelance translator of subtitles, manga and light novels, and I work as a tutor for undergraduate courses in Asian Studies.

Qualifications

MA Hons Japanese, University of Edinburgh, 2015

MScR Japanese, University of Edinburgh, 2021

Undergraduate teaching

Japanese Language Pre-intermediate (Translation)

Society and Culture in Pre-modern East Asia (Tutorials)

Current research interests

The aim of my project is to write an English translation of Saito Chiho's 2012-2017 manga series 'Torikae baya', with a commentary comprising an introduction that contextualises the source material, an explanation of my process, and a discussion of the themes and significance of the text. This manga is one of several adaptations of the Heian period tale 'Torikaebaya monogatari', none of which have been formally translated into English. In translating this series, I will explore how adapting this tale into a new medium for a new audience in modern Japanese reflects attitudes towards the time period of the original tale and the topics it addresses. I currently receive funding for this research project from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Studentship Programme.

Past research interests

Professional and amateur translation, anime and manga fan culture
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