Zack Davisson is an award-winning writer, translator, and folklorist who has played a significant role in making Japanese folklore and literature accessible to English-speaking audiences. He is respected in both academic and popular culture circles for his knowledge of translation and cultural history. Davisson has worked with National Geographic and the Smithsonian, and has been featured on NPR, the BBC, and The New York Times. His works have been translated into multiple languages.

Davisson is the author of Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan, Yurei: the Japanese Ghost, Yokai Stories, Narrow Road, Amabie: Past and Present, and translator of Shigeru Mizuki’s multiple Eisner Award-winning Showa: a History of Japan, Tono Monogatari, and famous folklore comic Kitaro.In addition, he has translated globally renowned entertainment properties such as Go Nagai’s Devilman and Cutie Honey, Leiji Matsumoto’s Space Battleship Yamato and Captain Harlock, and Satoshi Kon’s Opus. His other work includes Ultimate X-Men from Marvel comics, Wayward from Image, and The Art of Star Wars Visions from Lucasfilm. 

Davisson lectured on manga, folklore, and translation at colleges such as Duke University, Annapolis Naval Academy, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, UCLA, and the University of Washington and contributed to exhibitions at the Museum of International Folkart, Wereldmuseum Rotterdan, Världskulturmuseerna Stockholm, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

He currently lives in Seattle, WA with his wife Miyuki, dog Mochi, cat Shere Khan—and several ghosts.