Myths, Legends & Folklore: A Talk by Author Clara Kumagai
Meet the Irish/Japanese/Canadian author Clara Kumagai at the American Writers Museum for a reading from her debut young adult novel Catfish Rolling, followed by a discussion around themes of coming of age, identity, myth, legend and folklore. Born in Canada, Clara was raised in Cork and Galway by her Irish mother and Japanese father, she graduated from Trinity College, Dublin and returned to Canada for a masters degree, and spent the past five years in Japan. She has recently returned to live in Ireland and is celebrating the launch of her first novel.
The novel is set in Japan after the Fukushima quake. It blends magical realism with Japanese myth in an original story about grief and memory. Clara is also developing an essay collection centered around multiracial identity, hybridity and belonging.
Clara will talk about Catfish Rolling, and the influences of Ireland and Japan on her work and how many threads woven through the story reflect the new modern Ireland.
This event is hosted by the Consulate General of Ireland and we are delighted to welcome friends from Galway Sister Cities, the Chicago Cork Association and the Consulate General of Japan.