Japan's leading daily newspaper, Asahi Shimbun, on the 13th evaluated Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature win by stating, "War, disparity, division. In a world full of anguish, her work is expected to increasingly transcend borders and possess universality."
In an editorial on the same day, Asahi predicted that Han Kang's works, which have continuously questioned humanity's contradictory values of violence and, on the other hand, devotion and love amid ongoing violence claiming innocent lives in places like Ukraine and the Gaza Strip in the Middle East, will continue to resonate with readers.
It added, "This is the first time an Asian woman has received the Nobel Prize in Literature, and also the first Korean recipient," introducing her as "one of the authors who has led the growing popularity of Korean literature in Japan."
The newspaper also noted that the author, who wrote about the Gwangju Democratization Movement and the Jeju 4.3 Incident, repeatedly explored the mystery and essence of human existence.
Asahi also focused on the violence depicted in Han Kang's works. The paper explained, "Her diverse works sometimes portray violence to an extent that makes one want to look away. The sentences, crafted with delicate and meticulous descriptions, possess a power that feels like a sharp pain entering the body."
It continued, "On the other hand, love and devotion, which form human existence, are shown through empathy for others' desperate pain and suffering, sometimes even sacrificing oneself to protect others. Through the imagination of literature, Han Kang has maintained trust in humanity and sought hope," it added.
Asahi evaluated, "The spread of empathy for such an author may show that our imagination can overcome violence and suffering, and at least hold onto hope."
Separately from the editorial, Asahi also published an article summarizing a conversation between translator Konosu Yukiko and University of Tokyo professor Yanagihara Takaatsu about Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature win. When Konosu mentioned in the dialogue, "Han Kang's name was repeatedly mentioned, but she is still young," Professor Yanagihara responded, "She is the first Nobel laureate born in the 1970s."
Professor Yanagihara said, "The Nobel Prize in Literature is often seen as a European literary award, but this time they chose someone who dealt with historical tragedies from Korea, a distant periphery from Europe's perspective."
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