PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2009

CONTACT: Eiko Sakaguchi, Curator
301/405-9135
eikos@umd.edu

College Park, MD – “History and His Story”

Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Jimenez Hall, Room 0220, University of Maryland College Park Campus

Masahiko Shimada is one of Japan’s most provocative contemporary authors who has written more than 70 novels, won numerous awards, and been designated “Special Advisor for Cultural Exchange” by the Japanese government. His novel Voluntary Death Penalty (1999) was made into a TV drama, and his fascinating opera Jr. Butterfly, the tragic tale of Madame Butterfly’s offspring during WWII, was performed at the 52nd Puccini Festival in Italy in 2006. He played the lead role in the film Tokyo Lies (2007). A sharp critic of modern society, Shimada is famous for his commentary on AIDS, his “cell phone novel” “The Idle Prince,” and his participation in “poetry boxing matches.” His popular novel Dream Messenger (1989) was translated into English in 1994.

Sponsored by the Japanese Program of the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, The Center for East Asian Studies, and the University of Maryland Libraries in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the dedication of the Gordon W. Prange Collection.

Please register as seats are limited, and contact Prangebunko@umd.edu or call (301) 405-9348 for details.