Sam Bett

Literary Translator | Japanese & English

Sam Bett ’09 is an award-winning literary translator whose work has played a major role in bringing Japanese literature to global audiences. A graduate of UMass Amherst’s Japanese and English programs, Bett has built an international career translating fiction that bridges cultures, languages, and literary traditions.

In 2025, Bett received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award from the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, one of Japan’s highest honors recognizing contributions to cultural exchange. This commendation recognizes Bett’s efforts in raising global recognition of Japanese literature through English translation and in fostering literary dialogue between Japan and the United States through workshops and public readings.

Bett graduated from UMass Amherst in 2009 as an honors student, double majoring in Japanese and English, and earned the highest academic distinction of summa cum laude. His academic training laid the groundwork for a career that would later earn him Grand Prize in the JLPP International Translation Competition in 2016 and the Japan–U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature in 2019, as well as widespread critical acclaim.

Finding Japanese—Almost by Accident

Bett’s path to Japanese studies was anything but straightforward. He initially enrolled at the University of Maine as an English major, where students were required to complete two years of a foreign language. Uninterested in language study at the time, Bett postponed the requirement until the summer, when he enrolled in an intensive French course at Harvard Summer School.

After a discouraging encounter early in the course, Bett withdrew and returned to English studies. When the fall semester arrived, he found himself unable to continue French—the second-year course required prior completion, and the first-year course was already full. The only open options were Arabic and Japanese.

That unexpected turn proved decisive. Bett enrolled in Japanese and quickly discovered that he had both a talent for and a deep interest in the language. When he later learned that UMass Amherst offered the only degree-granting Japanese program among public universities in New England, the choice became clear. He transferred to UMass, where he immersed himself in Japanese language and literature.

Building a Career in Literary Translation

Since graduating, Bett has translated a wide range of Japanese fiction, introducing English-language readers to both classic and contemporary authors. Working with fellow translator David Boyd, he has co-translated several major novels by Mieko Kawakami that have received international recognition: Heaven, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize; All the Lovers in the Night, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction; and Breasts and Eggs.

Most recently, Bett’s translation of The Night of Baba Yaga by Otani Akira won a Dagger Award in July 2025—the first time a Japanese novel has received the honor. The award sparked renewed interest in the original novel in Japan, where it quickly became a national bestseller, an especially remarkable achievement given the book’s unconventional style.

Reflecting on his work, Bett emphasizes the importance of human interpretation in translation. He notes that effective translation requires attention to context, intention, and lived experience—elements that go beyond word-for-word substitution. By finding ways to recreate the strengths of the original, he says that literary translators can preserve the artistic integrity of a text while making it accessible to new readers.

Advice for Current Students

For students studying Japanese today, Bett offers both practical and reflective advice. He recommends picking up a copy of Nelson’s Character Dictionary, noting that looking up kanji in a physical volume helps build a systematic understanding of the characters. At the same time, he emphasizes the importance of balancing careful study with simply reading lots of material, not worrying about stopping to look up every unfamiliar word.

More broadly, Bett encourages students to reflect on their own learning process. “Ask yourself what is frustrating you about learning the language,” he advises, “and then figure out a fun way to work on that specifically.” Identifying and addressing personal challenges, he believes, is key to long-term growth and confidence.

Sam Bett’s journey—from an accidental first Japanese class to international recognition—highlights the transformative power of language study and the lasting impact of UMass Amherst’s Japanese program. Through his work, he continues to build meaningful connections between cultures, demonstrating how literature can travel across borders and speak to readers worldwide.