One of many manga versions of “The Tale of Genji.”

The Japan Society of Northern California will present “The Six Faces of Genji: Manga Versions of The Tale of Genji” on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (registration at 6 p.m.) at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post St. in San Francisco.

This is part of a series of events commemorating the millennium anniversary of Murasaki Shikibu’s literary classic, “The Tale of Genji” (Genji Monogatari).

Manga have permeated every aspect of Japanese life, teaching people to bank, new employees how to make repair estimates, and even young mothers how to network. “The Tale of Genji” has also had a powerful influence on Japanese society, with visual representations appearing in everything from ancient scrolls to modern yen notes.

A visually evocative story about an elegant, romantic hero par excellence, “The Tale of Genji” has spawned over 20 manga versions, from instructional tomes for children to shôjo girls, comics and even gag introductory manga.

Dr. Lynne Miyake of Pomona College will introduce a selection of these graphic novels, exploring their special vision and their contemporary take on this beloved tale.

Miyake, a professor of Japanese, women’s studies, and Asian American studies, works in Heian prose narratives dealing with issues of narration, gender, and cultural studies. She has published articles (in Japanese and English) on the manga versions of “The Tale of Genji,” the tale itself, and the impact of translation on the formulation of the canon of Japanese literature in the U.S., among other topics. She also is developing a book manuscript on the manga versions of “The Tale of Genji.”

Miyake received her B.A. from the University of Southern California and her M.A. in comparative literature and Ph.D. in Japanese literature from UC Berkeley.

The cost is free for Japan Society members and members of co-sponsoring organizations, $5 for students, and $10 general.

Co-sponsored by the Institute of East Asian Studies, the Mechanics’ Institute, and USF Center for the Pacific Rim, and in cooperation with the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco.

For more information, call (415) 986-4383 or visit www.usajapan.org.