William Scott Wilson

Prior to his career as a translator, Wilson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at Dartmouth College.{{Cite web |title=William Scott Wilson |url=https://www.shambhala.com/authors/u-z/william-scott-wilson.html |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Shambhala |language=en}}

In 1966, Wilson participated in a kayaking expedition from Shimonoseki to Tokyo and immediately began to appreciate Japanese culture. The following year, Wilson returned to Japan as a language teacher and lived in a 250-year-old farm house. In the two years he worked in Japan, Wilson began to read about Japanese literature from authors such as R. H. Blyth. Upon returning to the United States in 1969, Wilson went on to earn a second Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Language and Literature at the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies.{{Cite web |title=William Scott Wilson interview |url=https://www.sonshi.com/william-scott-wilson-interview.html |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Sonshi - The original Sun Tzu's Art of War resource |language=en}}

In 1975, Wilson travelled to Nagoya to study Edo period philosophy at the Aichi Prefectural University, before heading back to Seattle in 1979 to earn a Master's Degree in Japanese Language and Literature at the University of Washington.

On November 3, 2015, Wilson was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for "promoting understanding of Japan through the introduction of Japanese Literature in the United States."{{cite web|url=http://www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp/documents/2015-11-3%20Press%20Release%20(Wilson%20EN).pdf |title=Conferral of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, upon translator William Scott Wilson |publisher=Consulate-General of Japan in Miami |date= |access-date=2015-12-08}}

Wilson received a commendation from Japan's Foreign Ministry in Miami on November 15, 2005.{{cite web |title=Author William Scott Wilson of Miami honored by Japan's Foreign Minister |url=http://www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp/PRAWARD4.HTML |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060418183220/www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp/PRAWARD4.HTML |archive-date=2006-04-18}} The award is "conferred upon individuals or groups that have rendered especially distinguished service in strengthening the relationship between Japan and other countries. Through his literary works and translations, Mr. Wilson has contributed greatly to increased cultural understanding and friendship between the US and Japan."

• The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi, Kodansha International (October, 2004) {{ISBN|4-7700-2942-X}}
• Walking the Kiso Road, Shambhala Publications, 2015 {{ISBN|9781611801255}}{{cite journal |last=Giles |first=Morgan |date=4 March 2016 |title=William Scott Wilson: WALKING THE KISO ROAD: A modern-day exploration of old Japan. |journal=TLS. Times Literary Supplement |issue=5892 |page=35 |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA635179411&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=0307661X&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E9eee488b}}

• Roots of Wisdom (Saikontan) (1984) {{ISBN|978-0870117015}}
• Ideals of the Samurai: Writings of Japanese Warriors (October 1982) {{ISBN|978-0897500814}}
• Hagakure (Hidden Leaves) by Yamamoto Tsunetomo (03/01/1983) {{ISBN|978-1937981419}}
• Budoshinshu: The Warrior's Primer by Daidōji Yuzan (04/01/1984) {{ISBN|978-0897500968}}
• The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Sōhō (12/01/1987) {{ISBN|978-1590309865}}
• Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan by Eiji Yoshikawa (10/27/2000) {{ISBN|978-1568364285}}
• Go Rin no Sho (The Book of Five Rings) by Miyamoto Musashi (01/18/2002) {{ISBN|978-1419121906}}
• The Life-Giving Sword: Secret Teachings from the House of the Shogun (The Living Sword) by Yagyu Munenori (February 2004) {{ISBN|978-1590309902}}
• The Flowering Spirit: Classic Teachings on the Art of No by Zeami. Kodansha (release date: May 19, 2006) {{ISBN|4-7700-2499-1}}
• The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts by Issai Chozanshi. Kodansha International (release date: November 2006) {{ISBN|4-7700-3018-5}}
• The 36 Secret Strategies of the Martial Arts by Hiroshi Moriya (March 2008) {{ISBN|978-1590309926}}
• Yojokun: Life Lessons from a Samurai (The Way of the Warrior Series) by Kaibara Ekiken, Kodansha International (January 1, 2009) {{ISBN|978-4-7700-3077-1}}
• The Unencumbered Spirit: Reflections of a Chinese Sage, 2010, Kodansha International {{ISBN|4-7700-3097-5}}
• Tao Te Ching: A New Translation by Lao Tzu, Shambhala Publications, 2012 {{ISBN|159030991X}}
• Afoot in Japan by Yasumi Roan, 2015 {{ISBN|9781535503297}}
• The Life and Zen Haiku Poetry of Santoka Taneda by Sumita Oyama, Tuttle Publishing, 2021 [352 pp. 300 haiku and translator's introduction] {{ISBN|978-4-805316-55-9}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061116160838/https://www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp/PRAWARD4.HTML Honored by the Consulate General of Japan, November, 2005]
• [http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/2005/12/04/news/local/states/florida/counties/miami-dade/cities_neighborhoods/coral_gables/13209831.htm/ Miami Herald Biography, November 20, 2005]
• [http://faculty.washington.edu/kendo/wilson.html University of Washington]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509171322/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JC15Ad01.html Asia Times Book Review of "The 36 Secret Strategies of the Martial Arts" March 15, 2008]
• [http://www.publishersweekly.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleID=CA425702 Publishers Weekly Interview] Revisits an Ancient Culture (6/12/2004)
• Sean Michael Wilson's homepage - includes manga/graphic novel versions of William Scott Wilson's books.

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, William Scott}}

Category:Japanese–English translators

Category:1944 births

Category:Living people