New York: The success of "Taiwan Travelogue" by Taiwanese novelist Yang Shuang-zi at the 2024 U.S. National Book Awards took everyone by surprise, including the editor at its American publisher. The novel, published by the independent non-profit Graywolf Press, received the National Book Award for Translated Literature, marking the first time a book from Taiwan has been honored with this accolade.

According to Focus Taiwan, Yuka Igarashi, a Japanese-American editor, expressed her astonishment at the recognition. She shared that working with Graywolf Press often feels like operating in a niche that might not attract widespread attention, making the award even more gratifying. Igarashi played a pivotal role in bringing Yang's work to the U.S. audience, working closely with Lin King, the translator of the novel.

The novel, set during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan, is structured around the island's railway system. It follows the culinary adventures of Japanese writer Aoyama Chizuko and her Taiwanese interpreter, O Chizuru, in 1938. Igarashi praised Lin King for the unique translation, noting that it captured the essence of the story in a way only King could manage. Her editorial role was to guide the presentation of the translation to resonate with U.S. readers.

Igarashi noted that the book's success exceeded initial expectations. She acknowledged that Taiwan-specific elements were handled adeptly by Yang and King, despite the potential for confusion among international readers unfamiliar with Taiwan. The novel's vivid food descriptions were highlighted as a standout feature, likely to leave readers craving the dishes depicted.

While many U.S. readers found the ending of the novel "sad" due to the protagonists' separation, Igarashi offered an alternative perspective, suggesting that the book symbolizes a reunion of sorts for the characters.