'Japan's Jianzhen' works to popularize Sinology

A Japanese Sinologist is doing his best to spread the rich tapestry of Chinese literature in his home country, but young Japanese are still reluctant to take the plunge.

Toshiyuki Satou, 61, vice-president of Hiroshima University, focuses on the poetry and prose from the Six Dynasties, the period starting with the Three Kingdoms (220-280) and ending with the Chen Dynasty (557-589).

With over 200 visits to China and counting, Satou has been nicknamed "Japan's Jianzhen" - referring to the Chinese monk who helped propagate Buddhism in Japan in the eighth century.