Kazuo Ishiguro gives a press conference after being announced as the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature

The transcript discusses the speaker's challenges with language barriers and understanding questions due to limited Japanese proficiency. It explores how the speaker's Japanese heritage and upbringing have influenced their literary identity, even in works not set in Japan. The speaker reflects on their cultural upbringing, shaped by Japanese parents, and how it has provided a unique perspective on the world. Additionally, the transcript touches on generational and cultural differences, particularly those of Japanese people born in the 1920s, and how these differences are perceived in the USA.

What aspect of the speaker's early works is highlighted in the first section?

• They were set in the USA.

• They focused on Japanese people living in Japan.

• They were written in English.

• They had no cultural influence.

How did the speaker's upbringing influence their literary works?

• By providing a unique cultural perspective.

• By limiting their exposure to Japanese culture.

• By encouraging them to write in multiple languages.

• By focusing solely on Western themes.

What was the speaker's family plan regarding their future?

• To settle permanently in the USA.

• To return to Japan and integrate into Japanese society.

• To travel around the world.

• To live in multiple countries.

What generational differences does the speaker mention in the last section?

• Differences in educational backgrounds.

• Differences in technological adoption.

• Differences in cultural values and behaviors.

• Differences in language proficiency.

How does the speaker describe the cultural behaviors of their parents' generation?

• As modern and progressive.

• As traditional and foreign to the USA.

• As similar to Western cultures.

• As irrelevant to their own life.