Zack Davisson

Zack Davisson
Born (1972-08-15) August 15, 1972 (age 51)
Anaheim, California, United States
Occupation
  • Writer
  • editor
  • translator
Alma materUniversity of Sheffield
Website
zackdavisson.com

Zack Davisson (born August 15, 1972) is an American writer, lecturer, and translator, especially known for translating the works of Shigeru Mizuki, Leiji Matsumoto, Go Nagai, Satoshi Kon, and Gou Tanabe. He is also well known for his works on Japanese folklore and ghosts.[1][2][3][4][5]

In 2015, Davisson wrote his first book, Yurei: The Japanese Ghost.[6] Davisson went on to translate the works of Shigeru Mizuki, a popular Japanese manga artist and historian, into English. Davisson has cited Japanese writer Lafcadio Hearn as an inspiration on his work.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Davisson was born in Anaheim, California, but grew up in Spokane, Washington, where he attended University High School. He moved to Seattle where he attended Cornish College of the Arts. He moved to Japan on the JET Programme from 2001–2008 and did an MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Sheffield.[1] He married his wife, Miyuki, in Osaka. He lives in Seattle, Washington.[7]

Career[edit]

Davisson started his career writing for Japanese magazines like Japanzine and Kansai Time-Out. His first professional translation was Mizuki's manga series Showa: A History of Japan. He ran a website, hyakumonogatari.com, where he published translated works on manga and Japanese horror legends.[1][8] He has translated several manga series into English[9] and has written for Smithsonian[10] and The Comics Journal.[11] He co-scripts Demon Days from Marvel comics with Peach Momoko.[12]

He has lectured on manga, folklore, and translation at colleges such as Duke University, Annapolis Naval Academy, University Ca' Foscaria Venizia, UCLA, and the University of Washington and contributed to exhibitions at the Henry Art Gallery, the Museum of International Folkart, Wereldmuseum Rotterdan, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.[13][14]

Selected works[edit]

Writing[edit]

  • Yurei: The Japanese Ghost – Chin Music Press, 2014
  • Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan – Chin Music Press, 2017
  • Yokai Stories – Chin Music Press, 2017
  • The Art of Star Wars Visions – Dark Horse Comics, 2022
  • Demon Days – Marvel Comics, 2022
  • Edge of the Spider-verse – Marvel Comics, 2022
  • Demon Wars – Marvel Comics, 2023

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Smith, Alexander O. (April 28, 2016). "An Interview with Translator Zack Davisson". SCBWI Japan Translation Group via WordPress. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Fedotov, Svetlana (June 10, 2016). "Fangoria Interviews Kitaro Translator Zack Davisson". Drawn & Quarterly. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  3. ^ Belskaya, Ekaterina (April 17, 2014). "Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai: Tales of the Weird and the Strange". The Japan Times. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  4. ^ Ito, Robert (May 20, 2015). "Reviving Japan's Dreaded and Beloved Ghosts". The New York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  5. ^ Cline, Eric Alex (June 24, 2019). "Translation, Tanabe, and terror: An interview with Zack Davisson". AIPT. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Schilling, Mark (October 25, 2014). "Spooky tales from beyond the grave". The Japan Times. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "About Zack Davisson". zackdavisson.com. March 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "百物語怪談会 Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai".
  9. ^ "Zack Davisson: Anime News Network".
  10. ^ "Japan's Love-Hate Relationship with Cats".
  11. ^ "Zack Davisson Author at The Comics Journal".
  12. ^ "Zack Davisson: Marvel Comics".
  13. ^ "Meet Zack Davisson".
  14. ^ "Zack Davisson Duke Forum for Scholars and Publics".
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