Japan and Moscow to be honoured at the annual Book Fair in Paris

written by Michèle Folian. Translation Florence Le Provost

Bringing almost forty countries together, the Paris Salon du Livre (Book Fair) is increasingly open to the international scene. Japan and Moscow will be honoured at the 32nd edition of the Fair, which will be held at Porte de Versailles from March 16 to March 19.

The main events of the Paris Book Fair will take place around five main themes. Alongside with a presentation of Moscow and its writers, as well as a special focus on Japanese literature, a great part of the fair will be consecrated to manga literature, to the works adapted for the cinema, and also to the importance of the book in the city.

For the first time, 20 famous Japanese authors including the Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburô Ôé but also, filmmakers, mangakas or poets specialised in the art of haiku are going to be guests of honour at the Fair. Among them is the poet and translator Ryoko Sekiguchi who was born in Tokyo in 1970, and has been living in Paris for fifteen years now.



The Japanese Pavilion will introduce several works that include novels, poems or essays but also publications for younger generations, as well as manga books. Fans, children and adults alike, will at last be able to meet their heroes. Indeed, the French are fascinated by these cartoons « made in Japan » and are ranked second behind the Japanese among the top consumers of the genre in the world.
Not to be missed : the Naruto exhibition which will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the now legendary manga character, as well as the Cosplay show on the Grande Scène, on Saturday 17.

The manga author, Taku Nishimura, also known as Jean-Paul Nishi, will share his impressions about French people and their way of life with his Japanese compatriots.

The Japanese mangaka Jean-Paul Nishi

Moscow showcased as a guest of honour

Eighteen Russian writers from the capital city or inspired by it will meet the French audience for the whole duration of the Fair. Among high points is the eagerly expected discussion between two major writers, about authors meeting their fictional characters in the flesh , the encounter between Zakhar Prilepine and Emmanuel Carrère —, who won the Renaudot Prize in 2011 for « Limonov » - will take place on March 16 (19.30-20.30).

the Russian writer Zakhar Prilepine

On Saturday 17, (19.00-20.00) the discussion with Olga Slavnikova and Leonid Guirchovitch about 21st century Russia and the cyclical nature of its history also promises to be a hugely exciting event.

The Russian writer Olga Slavnikova

Book Treasures, a place for rare and old book lovers

The new « Book Treasures » space will offer rare and old book lovers the opportunity to discover about sixty or so original manuscripts.
The works that will be presented - letters by artists, illustrations by screen writers, or manuscripts —, include about fifteen manuscripts by Jean Cocteau, and among them, Beauty and the Beast, one of the French « National Treasures » , the manuscript is adorned with original illustrations and shooting photos. The manuscript of Marcel Carné's film Port of Shadows, signed by Jacques Prévert himself is another major document that will be shown at the Fair along with many others.

Lastly, this 32nd Fair will again enable visitors to meet writers such as the American author Russel Banks whose latest novel Lost Memory of Skin has just been published, as well as the Italian writer Milena Agus, or the French author Delphine de Vigan. Book signings will also take place with Frédéric Beigbeder - Florence Aubenas - Pierre Bordage - Tatiana de Rosnay - Simone Elkeles - Roger Jon Ellory - Emmanuel Carrère - Stéphane Hessel - Alexis Jenni - Frank Thilliez - Douglas Kennedy - Yasmina Khadra - Erik L'Homme - Benjamin Lacombe - Donna Leon - Marie-Aude Murail - Amélie Nothomb - Jean d'Ormesson - Erik Orsenna - Katherine Pancol - Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt - Joann Sfar - Jean Teulé - Bernard Werber...

Par Michèle Folian