William Scott Wilson

William Scott Wilson (born 1944) is an American translator, author and historian known for translating several works of Japanese literature, mostly those relating to the martial tradition of that country. Wilson has brought historical Chinese and Japanese thought, philosophy, and tactics to the West in his translations of famous East Asian literature.

Wilson's most notable translations include Hidden Leaves by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, which was featured in the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa, and The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Sōhō.

Early life Prior to his career as a translator, Wilson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at Dartmouth College.

In 1966, Wilson participated in a kayaking expedition from Shimonoseki to Tokyo and immediately began to appreciate Japanese culture. The following year, Wilson returned to Japan as a language teacher and lived in a 250-year-old farm house. In the two years he worked in Japan, Wilson began to read about Japanese literature from authors such as R. H. Blyth. Upon returning to the United States in 1969, Wilson went on to earn a second Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Language and Literature at the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies.

In 1975, Wilson traveled to Nagoya to study Edo period philosophy at the Aichi Prefectural University, before heading back to Seattle in 1979 to earn a Master's Degree in Japanese Language and Literature at the University of Washington.

Wilson received a commendation from Japan's Foreign Ministry in Miami on November 15, 2005. The award is "conferred upon individuals or groups that have rendered especially distinguished service in strengthening the relationship between Japan and other countries. Through his literary works and translations, Mr. Wilson has contributed greatly to increased cultural understanding and friendship between the US and Japan."