[Kumabjorn]

As you are all aware we are a fairly complex concoction of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In my case, outside my native Swedish and Danish, I happen to possess a PhD in Japanese literature. Hence, I have done a lot of partial translations for research purposes. A few chapters here and there, mostly of 19th century literature. I find the process intellectually challenging and therapeutically soothing. Hence, during the coming winter months I could see myself committing more time to tasks like that.

Since I don't need to do it for research purposes, nor personal gratification, the goal would be to make it into E-books for everybody's enjoyment. An opportunity to savor something that usually isn't offered by major publishers. However, since this isn't done for research, but actual publication, albeit non-profit, would it still require some sort of permission? I know that the books are still published in Japan, but they seem to be published by several publishers, hence I doubt that any single entity holds the copyright.

Has there been similar projects here before? Are there perhaps some threads that deals with issues like these?