Deadly Translation:
The Politics of Hitoshi Igarashi’s Japanese Version of The Satanic Verses

Hitoshi Igarashi
"Scholars can't be worried about what will happen to them as a result of their work."
Hitoshi Igarashi, on translating The Satanic Verses.

Hitoshi Igarashi was a Japanese scholar of Arabic and Persian literature. He was the first professional Japanese translator of the novel The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. Igarashi worked on the text during a period of intense political and religious tension.

He moved forward with the translation after the issuance of fatwas by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. These orders targeted the author and anyone associated with the publication of the book. Authorities later discovered the translator in his University of Tsukuba office after a fatal attack.

No specific legal charges were ever brought against Igarashi before his death. His murder is widely considered a response to his work on the controversial book. He remains a prominent figure in the history of linguists who faced danger while translating legal documents and literature.

The Impact of the Iranian Fatwa on Hitoshi Igarashi

The Iranian fatwas issued by Ayatollah Khomeini targeted every person involved in the production of the novel. The decree claimed these individuals were insulting sacred beliefs. Igarashi was found guilty according to these religious orders because of his Japanese translation.

The novel faced immediate bans in several countries. These locations included Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Malaysia, South Africa, and Iran also prohibited the distribution of the text.

The fatwa created an environment where linguists and publishers were at constant risk. Igarashi was the most prominent victim in Japan during this time. His commitment to the project showed a dedication to making literature accessible across language barriers.

The Academic Career of Hitoshi Igarashi

Igarashi served as an associate professor of Comparative Islamic Culture at the University of Tsukuba. He was a prolific writer who published books on Islam and the Islamic Renaissance. His research also covered the relationship between medicine and spirituality in Eastern traditions.

Beyond his work on modern novels, he was a skilled academic translator. He produced the Japanese edition of Avicenna’s The Canon of Medicine. This translation brought a fundamental historical medical text to Japanese readers.

Igarashi gained deep regional knowledge while studying at the Imperial Iranian Academy of Philosophy. He used this background to inform his translations and his public statements. He argued that scholarly work should be independent of political or religious threats.

Why Igarashi Defended the Novel

The translator did not have the chance to defend his work in a formal court. He instead used interviews to explain his decision to translate the book. He believed the message of the novel was consistent with mystical Sufi thought.

Igarashi argued that the author was not anti-Islamic. He compared the themes of the book to the literature of exile written by E. M. Foster. He also noted that the journey in the novel shared parallels with the Hejra by Muhammad.

The scholar believed the significance of the book was its reflection of the author's identity. He felt the writing focused on a complex relationship with India. He stated multiple times that he did not fear the threats he received for his work.

International Context and Numbers

The events surrounding this translation involved many individuals and countries. These statistics highlight the scale and impact of the controversy.

• More than 100 people have faced extrajudicial actions outside of Iran in connection to these policies.
• The Japanese edition sold 60,000 copies, which made the localized version very successful.
• Two other linguists were victims of the fatwa because of their translations.
• Italian translator Ettore Caprioli survived an attack in Milan.
• Norwegian translator William Nygaard also survived an assassination attempt.

The violence against translators led to international diplomatic tension. Norway recalled its ambassador to Iran following the attempt on Nygaard. Despite the danger, the book continued to reach readers around the world.

The author of the novel spent ten years in hiding to avoid the threats. While the original leader passed away, authorities have reaffirmed the assassination orders over the years. You can read a detailed New York Times report on the case.

About This Article

Famous Translators is a MotaWord series showcasing notable linguists and their work. We share stories that are relevant to the global translation community. You can reach out to us at info@motaword.com if you would like to be published.

Explore our other articles in the series:

• One Man's Soul Mountain: Translating Gao Xingjian
• The Mistranslation of the Mystical Nostradamus
• High-Quality Translation Philosophy with Jorge Luis Borges

Citations: IranRights, NYTimes, JapanTimes, LATimes, UPI