Yei Theodora Ozaki

Yei Theodora Ozaki was a translator of Japanese texts, and is credited with translating several books of stories for children and adults. She did not try for a literal translation, but instead she worked to create tales that were interesting for young readers in the West, while still preserving all of the cultural elements, including expressions. Her father was one of the first Japanese individuals to study in the West. She spent her teenage years in Japan, until she began traveling between Europe and Japan after refusing to participate in an arranged marriage.

Cover of The Japanese Fairy Book.

Ozaki’s works include Japanese Fairy Tales, which is also known as The Japanese Fairy Book ; Warriors of Old Japan and Other Stories; Romances of Old Japan, and Buddha’s Crystal and Other Fairy Stories. The Japanese Fairy Book is likely named after the Andrew Lang Fairy book series. She took pride in “following her fancy,” and editing the Japanese fairy tales and folk tales as needed, taking elements from some stories, and adding in “touches of local color.” She was often encouraged by people to tell stories of her adventures in Japan, and so she sought to give these to the children of the West.