José Watanabe is a transnational poet. Originally from Laredo, Perú, the son of a Japanese immigrant father and a Peruvian mother, his poetry explores a renewed vision of nature, intimacy, and reflection on the resources of language. The Japanese tradition strongly influences his poetry. A panel featuring diverse scholars with varied interests (poetry, echo criticism, Asian migration, diasporic identities, and border literature) will find the cultural crossroads of this fascinating poet. 

Panelists: Dr. Carlos Villacorta, Modern Languages and Classics, University of Maine; Dr. Mark Anderson, Romance Languages, UGA; Dr. Luis Correa-Díaz, Romance Languages, UGA; Dr. Martín Camps, Modern Languages and Literature, University of the Pacific; and Dr. Ignacio López-Calvo, Latin American Literature and Culture, University of California-Merced.