Mapping the Translators of the Meiji Bible: A Collective Biographical Approach

By Brenna Tanner

The translation of the Bible into Japanese during the Meiji era (1868–1912) was a transformative intellectual and cultural project, yet the individuals behind this endeavor remain understudied. While previous scholarship has examined the linguistic and theological dimensions of the Meiji Bible, biographical details on the translators—particularly the Japanese assistants—are scattered across disparate sources. This research critically addresses this gap by compiling and analyzing short biographies of the translation team, bringing together essential but fragmented information into a single accessible resource. By doing so, it provides a clearer picture of the diverse linguistic and cultural actors involved in shaping this significant text and their collective contributions to Japan’s religious and literary landscape.

Situating this study within the framework of Literary Translator Studies (Kaindl 2021), it examines the Meiji Bible translators not merely as linguistic mediators but as active agents shaping Japan’s encounter with biblical texts. Their work extended beyond translation to cultural brokerage, readership-building, and negotiating authority in a hierarchical, cross-cultural collaboration. Many of these translators engaged in broader intellectual and publishing activities, influencing how biblical narratives were received and interpreted by different social and religious groups in Meiji Japan.

By shifting the focus from the translated text to the human translators, this study offers new insights into the social structures of literary translation in the Japanese context, an area traditionally dominated by text-based analysis (Wakabayashi 2012). It also sheds light on collective translation efforts, complicating conventional notions of the solitary translator and highlighting the negotiations and power dynamics inherent in large-scale literary translation projects. Ultimately, this research not only reclaims the historical contributions of the Meiji Bible translators but also situates them within the evolving discourse on translator agency, visibility, and the sociology of literary translation. Through this approach, it contributes to broader discussions on translation as a collaborative, historically situated, and socially embedded practice.