23 June 2021 Books from the National Diet Library of Japan We continue to receive books from overseas partners under the international book exchange agreements.
This time, the package came from the National Diet Library of Japan. Our new acquisitions include two books of fairy tales representing Ainu and Kibagata folklore, a Spanish textbook by Professor Alex Pinar from Akita University and a historical review of forest management practices prepared by the Tama Forest Science Garden for educational purposes. All books are in English.
We are happy to present each item in greater detail.
1. The Owl and the Salmon is a fairy tale of the Ainu people, retold by the poet and artist Ukaji Shizue with original illustrations - as appliqués and embroidery on blue canvas. The Ainu are the most ancient people related to the Austronesian tribes. They are the indigenous inhabitants of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, with a population of about 20,000. The folklore of the Ainu people is a treasure of the Japanese nation. The Owl and the Salmon is not only readable, but also listenable: it comes with a CD with audio recording adorned with Oki Kano's music. This Japanese musician, descending from the Ainu, mixes folk motives with elements of rock, reggae and afrobeat. The listeners are guaranteed exquisite pleasure.
2. The second folktale, A Rich Man's Bride and Lotus Flowers will take you to the Lake Kiba lagoon, near the city of Komatsu, Honshu island. The folklore of these places, poetic and magical, like the local nature, will remind you of how important it is to preserve harmony in the soul and appreciate beauty in all its manifestations.
3. The textbook, Spanish in Action, is a communicative and practical Spanish course. It is divided into three modules, which correspond to A1, A2 and B1 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​and the Cervantes Institute programs. The content and design of the textbook will pleasantly surprise fans of the culture of Spanish-speaking countries.
4. A small twenty-page edition, Forest Education in Japan, will be of interest to both forestry professionals and anyone would want to get a clear idea of sustainable forest management. The story from one of the best arboretums in Japan is beautifully illustrated with photographs, diagrams and drawings. Especially recommended for forestry students.
The Komi National Library has been engaged in international book exchange for almost 30 years. The result is impressive – we have acquired more than 4.5 thousand items in various fields of knowledge in English, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, and Finno-Ugric languages. In return, our foreign partners are interested in books representing the local literature, language, culture and history of the Komi Republic.
Not so long ago, we exchanged book packages with the National Libraries of Belarus and Azerbaijan to satisfy the need of multi-language communities to be able to explore modern literature in their mother tongue.
We are thankful to our partners for our continued collaboration. | |
