Yuriy Toropchyn

He received specialized higher education in Oriental Languages and Literatures (including Translation), with Japanese Language and Literature as his primary focus at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, graduating with honors. Seeking not only to study the language but to truly understand the Japanese mindset, he completed a year-long course of study three times at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Open Academy and obtained a certificate of proficiency in Japanese. In addition to developing his language skills, he continues to deepen his understanding of Japanese aesthetics as a student of the Ukrainian branch of the Ikenobo school of ikebana, where he immerses himself in the traditional art of flower arrangement.

An active participant in Ukraine’s literary scene, he has received multiple awards at national translation competitions. He is the winner of the 2nd All-Ukrainian Competition for the Translation of Japanese Fiction organized by Borys Grinchenko University, a laureate of the All-Ukrainian Student Research Competition (First Degree Diploma), the recipient of a Special Award at the International Essay Contest by the Goi Peace Foundation, and a prizewinner of the youth literary competition «Nazva» in the Prose category. During his studies, he gave an interview to Asahi Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, sharing his vision of cultural dialogue between Ukraine and Japan.

He is convinced that translation is not merely a technical operation with words, but an art of building bridges between cultures. He strives to convey to Ukrainian readers not only the content of Japanese literary works, but also their soul, atmosphere, and unique aesthetic. He has a strong interest in manga, Japanese fiction, and everything that helps deepen the understanding of the Land of the Rising Sun.

For Safran publishing house, he translates manga «Blissfull Land» from Japanese.