Jay Rubin

Jay Rubin, born in 1941, is an American academic, translator, and novelist. Renowned for his translations of works by Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, Rubin has significantly contributed to the exposure of Japanese literature in the English-speaking world. He is also known for his studies on Natsume Soseki, Kunikida Doppo, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, prewar Japanese literary censorship, Noh drama, and Japanese grammar. His own work includes the novel 'The Sun Gods,' a historical narrative set in Seattle during World War II touching on the incarceration of Japanese-Americans. Rubin earned his Ph.D. in Japanese literature from the University of Chicago and has served as a professor at both the University of Washington and Harvard University, retiring from Harvard in 2006. He currently resides near Seattle, continuing his writing and translation work.