Listopia > Kōbō Abe Novels in English Translation
Kōbō Abe (1924-1993) — Japanese writer who produced surreal, existential works that were generally distanced from much of the particulars of Japanese history and culture. Despite being a recognized giant of world literature, and frequently mentioned as a Nobel Prize contender, a number of Abe's novels remain untranslated into English.
After 1996's KANGAROO NOTEBOOK, there were no further Abe novels translated into English for two decades. The drought ended in 2017 with a translation of the early BEASTS HEAD FOR HOME. And in March of 2026, a translation of THE TRAITOR is scheduled to appear.
Following is a list of Kōbō Abe novels in the order that they appeared in English translation (from earliest to latest).
THE WOMAN IN THE DUNES (1962 Japanese; 1964 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
THE FACE OF ANOTHER (1964 Japanese; 1966 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
THE RUINED MAP (1967 Japanese; 1969 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
INTER ICE AGE 4 (1959 Japanese; 1970 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
THE BOX MAN (1973 Japanese; 1974 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
SECRET RENDEZVOUS (1977 Japanese; 1979 English; translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter)
THE ARK SAKURA (1984 Japanese; 1988 English; translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter)
KANGAROO NOTEBOOK (1991 Japanese; 1996 English; translated by Maryellen Toman Mori)
BEASTS HEAD FOR HOME (1957 Japanese; 2017 English; translated by Richard F. Calichman)
THE TRAITOR (1964 Japanese; 2026 English; translated by Mark Gibeau)
After 1996's KANGAROO NOTEBOOK, there were no further Abe novels translated into English for two decades. The drought ended in 2017 with a translation of the early BEASTS HEAD FOR HOME. And in March of 2026, a translation of THE TRAITOR is scheduled to appear.
Following is a list of Kōbō Abe novels in the order that they appeared in English translation (from earliest to latest).
THE WOMAN IN THE DUNES (1962 Japanese; 1964 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
THE FACE OF ANOTHER (1964 Japanese; 1966 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
THE RUINED MAP (1967 Japanese; 1969 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
INTER ICE AGE 4 (1959 Japanese; 1970 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
THE BOX MAN (1973 Japanese; 1974 English; translated by E. Dale Saunders)
SECRET RENDEZVOUS (1977 Japanese; 1979 English; translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter)
THE ARK SAKURA (1984 Japanese; 1988 English; translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter)
KANGAROO NOTEBOOK (1991 Japanese; 1996 English; translated by Maryellen Toman Mori)
BEASTS HEAD FOR HOME (1957 Japanese; 2017 English; translated by Richard F. Calichman)
THE TRAITOR (1964 Japanese; 2026 English; translated by Mark Gibeau)
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The Woman in the Dunes
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The Face of Another
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The Ruined Map
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Inter Ice Age 4
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The Box Man
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Secret Rendezvous
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The Ark Sakura
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Kangaroo Notebook
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Beasts Head for Home
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score: 92,
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The Traitor
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score: 91,
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