THE TRANSLATION OF LOVE

Aya Shimamura, just 13, moves with her father from Canada to Japan in the aftermath of WWII. Nancy Wu delivers this story of friendship and love in a melodic voice with barely audible inflections. Fumi Tanaka, Aya's new friend, asks her to write a letter about her missing sister to General MacArthur, who may be able to help. Later, Fumi and Aya meet Corporal Matt Matsumoto, a Japanese-American who translates letters for the general. As Wu's steady performance drives the story to its conclusion, she differentiates characters with subtle shifts in tone. Overall, Wu's voice acts as a beacon that directs listeners through the tangle of Japanese customs and code of honor. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2016]