Salzburger Nachrichten - Trapps in Japanese: Salzburg children’s book to be translated

The Trapps in Japanese: Salzburg children’s book to be translated

ANTON KANDL

Salzburg-based children’s author Margarete Springl (photo) has achieved a surprising success with her debut work about the singing Trapp family. The book is now set to be translated into Japanese.

Originally, Margarete Springl wanted to retell Maria von Trapp’s autobiography in a child-friendly way for her daughter. This became the children’s book ‘The Singing Family from Salzburg’ (also known in bookshops as ‘The Trapp Family’). It was published by the Japanese publisher Shobunsha and has already reached a print run of 4,000 copies in Japanese – even though it was previously only available in German.

“With her book about the singing Trapp family, Salzburg-based author Margarete Springl now hopes to reach Japanese readers too,” she says. The Japanese publishing house showed great interest, as “The Sound of Music” is very popular in Japan.

However, financing proved to be a problem – over 7,000 euros were needed to cover the translation costs. Yet thanks to support from the publisher and private sponsors (including tourism boards), the project was realised.

The book contains a wealth of information specific to Salzburg, along with pictures and locations from the true story of the Trapp family – in contrast to the film *The Sound of Music*. It is aimed at children aged around 6–8 and recounts the real family history: Maria as a governess (not a novice), the indulgent Baron Trapp, and the escape to Italy rather than over the mountains.

Margarete Springl is particularly delighted that her book is now also due to be published in Japan: “The Trapps were a modern patchwork family – that fascinates people worldwide, including in Asia.”

The Japanese interest has arisen from the ongoing boom in “Sound of Music” tourism in Salzburg. Many Japanese visitors make a pilgrimage to the original locations (Mirabell Gardens, Nonnberg, Villa Trapp, etc.) and seek authentic information beyond the Hollywood myth.