Donald Keene’s Legacy
Donald Keene’s Legacy is a series of articles about Donald Keene’s achievements, his personality and his involvement in Japanese society through current events and the people associated with him. He was loved by many Japanese people and introduced the charms of Japanese literature and culture to the world. The yellow dog illustration appearing with this series is modeled after a dog that Keene cherished in childhood, and it is also depicted on his grave in Tokyo. The kanji characters for “yellow dog” can be pronounced as “ki-inu” in Japanese, and Keene altered it to "ki-in" as wordplay on his own name. He often used the characters as his signature on letters.
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Photo Exhibit Highlights Donald Keene’s Ties to Kyu-Furukawa Gardens, with Bonus Section Tracing His Life in Pictures
A photo exhibit about Donald Keene and the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens in Kita Ward, Tokyo, has opened a...
March 26, 2025
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Donald Keene’s Son Puts Basho to Music at Performance in Tokyo; Marking Date His Father Became a Japanese Citizen
A shamisen performance by Seiki Keene, the adopted son of Japanologist Donald Keene, was held in ...
March 10, 2025
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Keene’s Love for Karuizawa Spanned Over Half Century; Quiet Place to Work, Interact with Great Authors
Japan scholar Donald Keene’s devotion to the famous summer resort of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture...
February 24, 2025
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Tokyo Exhibition Explores Yukio Mishima, Donald Keene friendship; Organized by Gakushuin Women’s College Students
An exhibition to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first meeting between Japanese literary ...
November 25, 2024
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Serendipitous “Genji” Encounter Changed Keene’s Life; Exhibition Shows Work’s Charms Through Scholar’s Eyes
An exhibition focusing on the connection between Donald Keene (1922-2019), who played a major rol...
October 16, 2024
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Translator Fondly Recalls His Drinking Pal, Donald Keene; Writing Piece on Scholar’s ‘History of Japanese Literature’
“He was a good friend and drinking companion, a teacher who taught me how to translate, and a ben...
August 19, 2024
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Artisans Craft Unique Buddhist Altar for Donald Keene; Urushi Lacquer Artist, Master Builder Combined Their Skills
A unique Buddhist altar with a hexagonal roof sits in a Kita Ward, Tokyo, apartment that for near...
July 17, 2024
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Rakugo Scholar Matthew Shores to Talk at Waseda University in Japanese about His Research; First in the Donald Keene Memorial Foundation Lecture Series
Matthew Shores, an American scholar of rakugo and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, wi...
May 20, 2024
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Peter Grilli, Long-time Friend of Donald Keene Devoted to Cultural Exchange between Japan, U.S., Shares Memories of Keene
Peter Grilli, a writer, documentary filmmaker, and former President of the Japan Society of Bosto...
April 20, 2024
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Walking Event Held in Kita Ward, Tokyo, where Keene Lived; Participants Felt Close to Japanologist’s Local Legacy
A walking event was held on March 20 in the city where Donald Keene lived. Keene's adopted son Se...
March 27, 2024
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Donald Keene Remembered for Decades of Friendship on Tokyo Shopping Street; Exhibit Features Shopkeepers’ Quotes about Late Scholar
An exhibit titled “My Neighbor Keene Sensei,” featuring memorable quotes from store owners and other...
March 13, 2024
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Soka City Keeps Up Cultural Dialogue Started by Donald Keene; Family Members Share Memories of His Later Life
Seiki Keene, adopted son of the late literary scholar Donald Keene, held a public talk in Soka, S...
March 5, 2024
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Donald Keene Remembered in Museum Exhibition, Piano Concert; Fond Sentiment Lingers in Kita Ward, His Longtime Home
A concert titled "The Pianist Who Touched Donald Keene's Heart" by Yukiko Nishimura, who was a frien...
February 14, 2024
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Unearthed Article by Donald Keene Portrays Life in ’50s Kyoto; Bonds and Feuds with Japanese Writers Also Described
In an unpublished manuscript, Donald Keene recalled with humor his daily life in 1950s Kyoto, his en...
February 5, 2024
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Cataloging Donald Keene’s Large Estate of Cultural Items; Japan Scholar Left Trove of Letters, Calligraphy, Antiques
The Donald Keene Memorial Foundation in Kita Ward, Tokyo, is sorting and organizing the vast trove o...
February 5, 2024
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