On Friday, 20 March 2026, at 10:00 CET, Ina Hein will give an online talk titled “Experimenting with Multilingualism in Contemporary Japanese Literature: Hoshi Tsuki Yoru ‘StarsMoonNight’ by Taiwan-born Japanese Author Li Kotomi.”

| About |

This presentation focuses on Li’s novel Hoshi Tsuki Yoru (星月夜 ‘StarsMoonNight’, 2020), set in a contemporary, realist context. Alternating between the perspectives of a Taiwanese teacher of Japanese living in Tokyo and her Uyghur student, the novel incorporates multiple languages, including Japanese, Chinese (in both Taiwanese and PRC variants) and Uyghur.

Central thematic concerns include language learning and linguistic inadequacy, teaching and explaining language, pronunciation and phonetics, translation and textual revision. Alongside these linguistic issues, the novel explores multiple other topics, such as interpersonal relationships, reasons for migration and experiences of discrimination in Japan.

This Multea Talk will examine in depth the novel’s central themes, explore the ways in which multilingualism is employed, consider the functions and effects of linguistic diversity within the text, and demonstrate how Li Kotomi intricately intertwines form and content. Ultimately, her literary choices and strategies will be situated within the broader context of contemporary Japanese border-crossing literature.

| Access |

The event will take place online via Zoom. Further details about the talk can be found here: https://langueflow.eu/multea-talk-experimenting-with-multilingualism-in-contemporary-japanese-literature/

All interested participants are warmly invited to attend.

Zoom link: https://univienna.zoom.us/j/63874000276?pwd=MjqTJKz8PZM8PDcV5nBZCDjgNjwb2I.1

Meeting ID: 638 7400 0276

Passcode: 198555