It was Colombia University in New York, USA, where a society that spreads Japanese culture and literature to the world and honored Japanese literature researcher Donald Keene who died at the age of 96 this February served as a professor. About 200 people gathered and those who had a deep exchange in their lives talked about memories such as Keen's passion for research.
Columbian historian professor Carol Gluck recalled that Keen read and wrote books, both at dawn and at night. Keen-san had a habit of writing comments with pencils on the books she read, and there was an episode that there were many books with Keen-san's writings in the same library.
`` Most of those who are studying Japanese literature in English-speaking countries are taught by Keen, his students, and his grandchildren, '' said David Lurie, director of the Donald Keene Japan Cultural Center. Pointed out that the researcher received a pottery. "I'll never be like that again," hesitated. (New York = Kei Ukai)
