Contribution to Book
Guilt, survival, opportunities, and stigma: Japanese interpreters in the postwar occupation period (1945-1952)
New Insights in the History of Interpreting
(2016)
Abstract
Following the end of World War II, Japanese interpreters faced unique and complex opportunities and hardships. In occupied Japan, thousands of local interpreters (and translators) were recruited to assist in a variety of occupation operations led by the US forces. In war crimes trials, Japanese linguists played an important role as interpreters in court proceedings against their former superiors and compatriots. At the same time, some interpreters who had served in the Japanese Army were prosecuted as war criminals. Wartime interpreters were also tapped as witnesses to testify for the prosecution during trials. These diverse experiences of Japanese interpreters during the occupation period shine light on some issues and risks faced by wartime interpreters and local interpreters serving foreign military occupiers.
Keywords
- court interpreting,
- social stigma,
- war crimes,
- postwar occupation,
- Japanese women
Disciplines
Publication Date
2016
Editor
Kayoko Takeda & Jesús Baigorri-Jalón
Publisher
John Benjamins
ISBN
ISBN 9789027258670
Citation Information
Kayoko Takeda. "Guilt, survival, opportunities, and stigma: Japanese interpreters in the postwar occupation period (1945-1952)" Amsterdam & PhiladelphiaNew Insights in the History of Interpreting (2016) p. 225 - 246 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kayoko_takeda/42/