The Mildred F. Sawyer Library has been enhanced with a collection of books about noted Japanese literary figures and the links between early East Asian cultures.

The books were presented by the Japan Foundation and Wontak Hong, professor emeritus at Seoul National University in Korea, through the Rosenberg Institute for East Asian Studies at Suffolk University.

“It’s going to strengthen our collection in the area of Japanese and Korean studies,” said Acting Sawyer Library Director Rebecca Fulweiler. “Our collection is heavily used by students and faculty, and I am sure these books will begin circulating soon after we place them on the shelves.”

The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 by the Japanese government as a vehicle for introducing Japanese culture abroad. The literary gift received by Suffolk consists of seven novels, all of which are modern, avant-garde stories that display the best of contemporary Japanese fiction.

The English language editions of these novels and the well-known Japanese authors attached to them include: Bedtime Eyes by Amy Yamada, The Diving Pool by Yoko Ogawa, The Apprenticeship of Big Toe by Reiko Matsuma, and Silence, a modern classic by Shusaku Endo, one of Japan’s foremost contemporary fiction writers.

Hong’s contributions, Ancient Korea-Japan Relations and East Asian History, take an original and interpretive view that emphasizes the links between early East Asian cultures, particularly the documented interactions between Korea and Japan.

Ronald Suleski, professor and director of the Rosenberg Institute for East Asian Studies, said, “Suffolk University is continually increasing its course offerings dealing with Asia, so all of these books will be welcomed by our students who are always exploring a wide range of ideas.”