“The first who falls in love with the character is the translator”[Suplimentul de cultură, Year 16, no. 668]

Angela Hondru is a Japanologist, translator, ethnologist and a former Ph.D. professor. She has translated books of well-known Japanese authors into Romanian and published numerous studies and articles on Japanese mythology and folklore.

Born on December 4th, 1944, Angela Hondru obtained her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, English Department (1971). She also attended a Japanese language course at “Ioan Dalles” Open University between 1976 and 1979, and a summer course for Japanese language teachers, organised by The Japan Foundation in 1980.

Angela Hondru taught English at Secondary School no. 190 in Bucharest, Romania, until 1997. in Bucharest until 1997. Concurrently, she taught Japanese at “Ioan Dalles” Open University between 1978 and 1996, at Secondary School no. 190 between 1992 and 1996, and at “Ion Creangă” High School in 1996-1997. At these last two schools, Angela Hondru introduced advanced Japanese language classes. In 1990, she set up an optional Japanese language course at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, where she was a professor from 1990 to 2005. Angela Hondru also inaugurated the Japanese Language and Literature Department at Hyperion University in Bucharest, where she taught from 1990 until she retired in 2009.

Angela Hondru

Research

  • Master’s Thesis

    Brainstorming and Synectics, Means of Stimulating English Language Learning, University of Bucharest, 1986

  • Ph.D. Thesis

    Wedding and Funeral in Japanese and Romanian Literatures, University of Bucharest, 2000

Research Activity

  • 1995 (2 months) – IREX Scholarship for studying Japanese Mythology – The Institute of Asian Studies, Berkley, USA
  • 2000-2001 (7 months) – Postdoctoral Japan Foundation Fellowship, also including the study of matsuri – Ōsaka Gaidai (University of Foreign Studies), Japan
  • 2005-2006 (1 year) – Japan Foundation Fellowship for studying kagura – Ōsaka Gaidai (University of Foreign Studies), Japan

  • Member of the Writers’ Union since 1991

Awards and Commendations

  • 1987 – Diploma of Honour, “Ioan Dalles” Open University, Bucharest
  • 1999 – Diploma of Honour, Hyperion University, Bucharest
  • 2008 – Prize of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (Gaimushō Shō)
  • 2008 – The Japan Foundation Award (Kokusai Kōryūkikin Shō)
  • 2009 – The Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (Kyokujitsu Shōkun Shō)
  • 2009 – Doctor Honoris Causa, Hirosaki University, Japan
  • 2013 – CSRJ in Bucharest took on her name: “Angela Hondru” Centre for Romanian-Japanese Studies
  • 2019 – “Observator Cultural” Award for Translations

Works

Should I use a red crayon instead of words, I would paint a big fire, the fire of my love for Japan, for matsuri and kagura, for all those who lay at the steer of my destiny – the fire that would go out at the same time with my last heartbeat. Letter to Japan, UMC, Bucharest, 2020
  • 26 books translated from Japanese
  • 9 books translated from English
  • 3 books translated to English
  • author & editor of
    14 books

Translations

From Japanese

  • Mishima Yukio, Kinkakuji – Templul de aur, Univers, Bucharest, 1985 (Revised edition, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2000)
  • Natsume Sōseki, Botchan – Botchan, Univers, Bucharest, 1988
  • Abe Kōbō, Tanin no kao – Chip străin and Moetsukita chizu – Harta arsă, Univers, Bucharest, 1990 (Revised edition of Harta arsă, Polirom, Iasi, 2006 and of Chip străin, Polirom, Iasi, 2006)
  • Kokusai Kōryū Kikin no Kiso Nihongo Gakushū Jiten – Dicţionar japonez‑român, Editura Enciclopedică, Bucharest, 1998
  • Murakami Haruki, Noruei no mori – Pădurea Norvegiană, Polirom, Iasi, 2002
  • Murakami Haruki, Kokkyō no minami, taiyō no nishi – La sud de graniţă, la vest de soare, Polirom, Iasi, 2003
  • Murakami Haruki, Nejimaki-dori kuronikkuru – Cronica păsării-arc, Polirom, Iasi, 2004
  • Endō Shusaku, Obaka-san – Un idiot minunat, Polirom, Iasi, 2004
  • Murakami Haruki, Sekai no owari to hārudo-boirudo wandārando – La capătul lumii şi în ţara aspră a minunilor, Polirom, Iasi, 2005
  • Abe Kōbō, Hako-otoko – Bărbatul-cutie, Polirom, Iasi, 2007
  • Fujisawa Shūhei, Takemitsu shimatsu nado – Sabia de bambus şi alte povestiri, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2007
  • Enchi Fumiko, Onna-men – Măştile, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2007
  • Dazai Osamu, Shayō – Amurg, Polirom, Iasi, 2008
  • Ariyoshi Sawako, Hanaoka Seishū no tsuma – Soţia doctorului, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2008
  • Ariyoshi Sawako, Izumo no Okuni – Dansatoarea de Kabuki, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2008
  • Enchi Fumiko, Onna-zaka – Ani de aşteptare, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2008
  • Miyamoto Teru, Kinshū – Brocart de toamnă, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2009
  • Mishima Yukio, Haru no yuki – Zăpada de primăvară, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2009
  • Kaida Tetsuya, Ba to kaze – Locuri şi adieri, Yume, Constanta, 2010
  • Inoue Yasushi, Ryōjū – Puşca de vânătoare, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2013
  • Ariyoshi Sawako, Kōge – Parfum de curtezană, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2013
  • Okamoto Kidō, Hanshichi Torimonochō (14 stories) – Fiica negustorului de sake, povestiri, Humanitas, Bucharest 2014
  • Murakami Haruki, Kaze no Uta wo Kike – Ascultă cum cântă vântul and 1973 Nen no Pinbōru – Pinball, 1973, Polirom, Iasi, 2015
  • Murasaki Shikibu, Genji Monogatari – Povestea lui Genji, Polirom, Iasi, 2017
  • Teru Miyamoto, Haru no Yume – Vis de primăvară, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2022
  • Sawako Ariyoshi, Ki no Kawa – Râul destinelor, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2024

From English

  • Monzaemon Chikamatsu, Major Plays – Poeme dramatice, Univers, Bucharest, 1980
  • Osamu Dazai, Setting Sun – Amurg, Univers, Bucharest, 1982
  • Martin Allwood, Death Was in My Body – Moartea a fost în trupul meu, Sakura, Bucharest, 1992
  • Martin Allwood, Today or Never – Azi ori niciodată, Sakura, Bucharest, 1992
  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea, Facts about Korea – Coreea azi, Sakura, Bucharest, 1992
  • Eiji Yoshikawa, Musashi – Musashi, Nemira, Bucharest, 1994 (Revised edition: Polirom, Iasi, 2004, 2009, 2013)
  • Michio Kushi, Know Yourself – Cunoaşte-te singur Deceneu, Bucharest, 1996
  • Iris Murdoch, Jackson’s Dilemma, Univers Enciclopedic, Bucharest, 1997
  • Donald Richie, selection: Lafcadio Hearn’s Japan: An Anthology of his Writings on the Country and its People, selection of Donald Richie – Japonia lui Lafcadio Hearn, Humanitas, Bucharest, 2009

To English and Editor of

  • Universal and Particular in Romanian and Japanese Folk Beliefs (the translation from Japanese and Romanian into English of the works of the International Conference organised by Angela Hondru and sponsored by the Japan Foundation and Hyperion University), Victor, Bucharest, 2002
  • Angela Hondru, Ema - Rugi şi recunoştinţă (2019) – Ema - Prayers and Gratitude, UMC, Bucharest, 2019
  • Angela Hondru, Scrisoare către Japonia (2011) – Letter to Japan, UMC, Bucharest, 2020

Teaching / Learning Material

Author of

  • Limba japoneză pentru începători (Japanese for Beginners), Shunposha, Tokyo, 1983 (Revised edition, Sirius, Bucharest, 1991)
  • Ghid de conversaţie român-japonez (Romanian - Japanese Conversation Guide) (co-author Raluca Nicolae), Polirom, Iasi, 2002
  • Curs practic de limba japoneză (Practical Course of Japanese Language), Polirom, Iasi, 2002 (Revised edition, Yume, Constanta, 2010)
  • Ghid de conversaţie japonez-român (Japanese – Romanian Conversation Guide) (co-author Fumiaki Tajiri), Polirom, Iasi, 2004

Author and Editor of

  • 111 Dialoguri situaţionale (111 Situational Dialogues) (co-author Ryō Matsumaru), Sakura, Bucharest, 1991
  • Curs de limba japoneză vol. II (Japanese Language Course II), Sakura, Bucharest, 1992
  • Ghid de literatură japoneză vol. I (Guide to Japanese Literature I), Victor, Bucharest, 1999
  • Ghid de literatură japoneză vol. II (Guide to Japanese Literature II), Victor, Bucharest, 2004
  • Japanese Language and Civilization – CD-ROM, Gabriela Medrea, 2005

Anthropological / Ethnological Works

Author and Editor of

  • Mituri şi legende japoneze (Japanese Myths and Legends), Victor, Bucharest, 1999
  • Festivaluri japoneze – În spiritual tradiţiei (Japanese Festivals – In the Spirit of Tradition), TC Sen, Sibiu/ Constanta, 2001
  • Ema – rugi şi recunoştinţă (Ema – Prayers and Gratitude) UMC, Bucharest, 2019

Author of

  • Scrisoare către Japonia (Letter to Japan), Editura Enciclopedică, Bucharest, 2011
  • Kagura – de la mit la realitate prin dans (Kagura – from Myth to Reality through Dance), Monitorul Oficial, Bucharest, 2014

Other Works

Collaborator

(entries on Japan: culture, geography, history)
  • Dicţionar enciclopedic (Encyclopedic Dictionary), vol. III, Editura Enciclopedică, Bucharest, 1999
  • Dicţionar enciclopedic (Encyclopedic Dictionary), vol. IV, Editura Enciclopedică, Bucharest, 2001
  • Dicţionar enciclopedic (Encyclopedic Dictionary), vol. V, Editura Enciclopedică, Bucharest, 2005
  • Dicţionar enciclopedic (Encyclopedic Dictionary), vol. VI, Editura Enciclopedică, Bucharest, 2006
  • Dicţionar enciclopedic (Encyclopedic Dictionary), vol. VII, Editura Enciclopedică, Bucharest, 2008

Scripts

  • Amanţii însângeraţi (Double Suicide), adaptation after Sonezaki Shinjū and Amijima Shinjū by Monzaemon Chikamatsu, staged at National Theatre “I.L. Caragiale”, Bucharest, June 2001
  • Mesagerul idadului (The Messenger of the Hell), adaptation after Meido no Hikyaku by Monzaemon Chikamatsu, staged at “Odeon” Theatre, Bucharest, May 2012

Articles

(selection)
  • “Kagura – The Japanese Sacred Dance” in Anuarul Institutului de Etnografie şi Folclor, Academia Română, tome 14-15, Bucharest, 2003-2004, p. 181-188 (in Romanian)
  • “Karushu – Rūmania no Shoka no Enbu” (“Căluşul – from Myth to Reality through Dance”) in Sestsuwa Denshōgaku, JSFT / Japan Society of Folk-Literature and Traditions, vol. XV, Japan, 2007, p. 1-17 (in Japanese)
  • “Kagura no Miryoku – Shinkō to Geinō no Yūgō” (“The Beauty of Kagura Dances - a Perfect Harmony between Faith and Art”) in Gakujutsu Geppō, JSPS / Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, vol. 60, no. 3/ 2007, Japan, 2007, p. 13-17 (in Japanese)
  • “Bicchū Kagura, Shiromi Kagura – From Myth to Reality through Ritual” in Annals of the “Sergiu Al. George” Institute for Oriental Studies, vol. XII-XVI, Bucharest, 2007, p. 157-171 (in English)
  • “Aoi-matsuri – Essence of the Sacred and the Beauty” in Studia Universitatis, Babeș-Bolyai, no. 3/ 2010, Cluj, 2010, p. 35-47 (in English)
  • “Hayachine-kagura – an Exquisite Bouquet of Dances” in Studia Universitatis, Babeș-Bolyai, no. 1/ 2013, Cluj, 2013, p. 117-126 (in English)

Photo Exhibitions and Lectures

 
  • 2011 – Romanian-American University in Bucharest: Matsuri and Kagura – Heartbeats of Japan
  • 2012 – “Odeon” Theatre in Bucharest: Kagura – the Japanese Sacred Dance
  • 2013 – “Franz Binder” Museum for Universal Ethnography in Sibiu: Japanese Festivals and Sacred Dances. Angela Hondru donated 335 photos, which were described and commented upon in an article bearing the same title, published in Cibinium 2013, Astra Museum, Sibiu, 2013, p. 49-60

References