1 (1874-1959)
Born in Matsuyama. Studied haiku under Shiki. Started
Hototogisu (cuckoo). He is one most famous haiku
poets in 20th century.
Born in Matsuyama. Studied haiku under Shiki. Started
Hototogisu (cuckoo). He is one most famous haiku
poets in 20th century.
Haiku by Japanese Poets (1)
translated by Fay Aoyagi
translated by Fay Aoyagi
In April 1997, I went to Tokyo to participate International Haiku Conference with my fellow
American and Canadian poets. At that time, I did not know almost anything about
contemporary Japanese haiku. At the conference, I met quite a few haiku masters in
Japan. During the stay, I bought an anthology titled Gendai no Haiku (Modern Haiku),
edited by Shobin Hirai, Kodansha, Tokyo, 1996, to know more about Japanese haiku in
the 20th century.
This book contains 107 poets. I do not know how long will take for me to introduce all
these haiku poets in this anthology. But, I will make my best efforts! I learned very much
from this book and I hope my translation will help you to understand/enjoy haiku by
contemporary Japanese haiku poets.
I will not translate every haiku in the book, just show the samples (my random selection)
from it.
Please click a poet's name to go to the translation page.
January 2007 Fay Aoyagi
American and Canadian poets. At that time, I did not know almost anything about
contemporary Japanese haiku. At the conference, I met quite a few haiku masters in
Japan. During the stay, I bought an anthology titled Gendai no Haiku (Modern Haiku),
edited by Shobin Hirai, Kodansha, Tokyo, 1996, to know more about Japanese haiku in
the 20th century.
This book contains 107 poets. I do not know how long will take for me to introduce all
these haiku poets in this anthology. But, I will make my best efforts! I learned very much
from this book and I hope my translation will help you to understand/enjoy haiku by
contemporary Japanese haiku poets.
I will not translate every haiku in the book, just show the samples (my random selection)
from it.
Please click a poet's name to go to the translation page.
January 2007 Fay Aoyagi
2 (1879-1951)
Born in Nagano. Started haiku magazine Zakuro
(pomegranate).
Born in Nagano. Started haiku magazine Zakuro
(pomegranate).
3 (1882-1940)
Works of Santoka, a wandering poet, have been
translated into English many times. I chose only
two.
Works of Santoka, a wandering poet, have been
translated into English many times. I chose only
two.
5 (1884-1912)
Born in Tottori. After graduating from Tokyo
University and haveing worked for the insurance
companies, he started writing free-verse haiku.
His haiku collection Oozora (Big Sky) was
published after his death.
Born in Tottori. After graduating from Tokyo
University and haveing worked for the insurance
companies, he started writing free-verse haiku.
His haiku collection Oozora (Big Sky) was
published after his death.
4 (1884-1954)
Born in Tokyo. After working as a newspaper
reporter, he started submitting his haiku to
Hototogisu led by Kyoshi Takahama. He is one
of Big Four of Kyoshi's disciples.
Born in Tokyo. After working as a newspaper
reporter, he started submitting his haiku to
Hototogisu led by Kyoshi Takahama. He is one
of Big Four of Kyoshi's disciples.
6 (1885-1979)
Born in Aichi. Started 'Todai Haiku-kai' (Tokyo
University Haiku Group) and studied haiku under
Kyoshi Takahama.
Born in Aichi. Started 'Todai Haiku-kai' (Tokyo
University Haiku Group) and studied haiku under
Kyoshi Takahama.
7 (1885-1962)
Born in Yamanashi. Started Unmo (Mica) haiku
group. One of the most famous haiku master in
the 20th century.
Born in Yamanashi. Started Unmo (Mica) haiku
group. One of the most famous haiku master in
the 20th century.
8 (1886-1980)
Born in Sapporo. Studied haiku under Kyoshi
Takahama. In 1932, started Komakusa
(dicentra) and had been active in Sendai area.
Born in Sapporo. Studied haiku under Kyoshi
Takahama. In 1932, started Komakusa
(dicentra) and had been active in Sendai area.
9 (1886-1951)
Born in Izumo. After dropping out from the
medical school, wondered around the country
then met haiku. While suffering from
neuropathy, he left many excellent haiku.
Born in Izumo. After dropping out from the
medical school, wondered around the country
then met haiku. While suffering from
neuropathy, he left many excellent haiku.
NEW
NEW
10 (1887-1951)
Born in Fukuoka. Hototogisu (Cuckoo) dojin.
Sheled Kyushu University Haiku Group and tried
to write subjective haiku.
Born in Fukuoka. Hototogisu (Cuckoo) dojin.
Sheled Kyushu University Haiku Group and tried
to write subjective haiku.
11 (1889-1963)
Born in Tokyo. After the Kan Kikuchi Award for
his involvement with Bungakuza theater group,
started Shunto (Spring Light) haiku group.
Born in Tokyo. After the Kan Kikuchi Award for
his involvement with Bungakuza theater group,
started Shunto (Spring Light) haiku group.
12 (1890-1946)
Born in Fukuoka. After being in the spotlight as
a star poet at Hototogisu (Cuckoo), she was
expelled from the group in 1936.
Born in Fukuoka. After being in the spotlight as
a star poet at Hototogisu (Cuckoo), she was
expelled from the group in 1936.
13 (1892-1988)
Born in Morioka. Started 'Todai Haiku Kai'
(Tokyo University Haiku Goup) and 'Todai
Hototogisu Kai' (Cuckoo at Tokyo University),
then Natsukusa (Summer Grass) in 1929.
Worked as the Engineering Dept. Professor of
Tokyo University.
Born in Morioka. Started 'Todai Haiku Kai'
(Tokyo University Haiku Goup) and 'Todai
Hototogisu Kai' (Cuckoo at Tokyo University),
then Natsukusa (Summer Grass) in 1929.
Worked as the Engineering Dept. Professor of
Tokyo University.
14 (1892-1981)
Born in Tokyo. Practiced as a medical doctor
and started Todai Haiku Kai (Tokyo University
Haiku Group). One of 4Ss in Kyoshi
Takahama's Hototogisu (cuckoo). Pursued
subjective and artistic haiku. Many
distinguished haiku poets, such as Hakyo Ishida
or Shuson Kato started in his group Ashibi
(Pieris (Japanese andromeda?)).
Born in Tokyo. Practiced as a medical doctor
and started Todai Haiku Kai (Tokyo University
Haiku Group). One of 4Ss in Kyoshi
Takahama's Hototogisu (cuckoo). Pursued
subjective and artistic haiku. Many
distinguished haiku poets, such as Hakyo Ishida
or Shuson Kato started in his group Ashibi
(Pieris (Japanese andromeda?)).
15 (1893-1976)
Born in Ibaraki. Joined Kyoshi's haiku group in
his medical student's days at Tokyo University
and became one of 4Ss. Kyoshi praised him as
the model of the objective sketch style of haiku.
In 1956, started Seri (Japanese parsley).
Born in Ibaraki. Joined Kyoshi's haiku group in
his medical student's days at Tokyo University
and became one of 4Ss. Kyoshi praised him as
the model of the objective sketch style of haiku.
In 1956, started Seri (Japanese parsley).
16 (1895-1976)
Born in Osaka. A dojin of Hototogisu (cuckoo).
Starting Fuei (poetry composition) in 1953.
Born in Osaka. A dojin of Hototogisu (cuckoo).
Starting Fuei (poetry composition) in 1953.
17 (1896-1987)
Born in Gifu. Dojin of Unmo (mica). In 1971,
started Seiju (green tree).
Born in Gifu. Dojin of Unmo (mica). In 1971,
started Seiju (green tree).
17 (1899-1986)
Born in Tokyo. One of the major poets of Ashigi
(led by Shuoshi Mizuhara). Started Hatsugamo
(First Duck) in 1936, later in 1946 changed the
name to Nobi (wild Fire).
Born in Tokyo. One of the major poets of Ashigi
(led by Shuoshi Mizuhara). Started Hatsugamo
(First Duck) in 1936, later in 1946 changed the
name to Nobi (wild Fire).
18 (1899-1972)
Born in Chiba. Started the new voice of the
free-spirited. Together with Teijo Nakamura,
Tatsuko Hoshino, Takako Hashimoto, she is
called Four T. One of the very important haiku
poet in modern haiku history.
Born in Chiba. Started the new voice of the
free-spirited. Together with Teijo Nakamura,
Tatsuko Hoshino, Takako Hashimoto, she is
called Four T. One of the very important haiku
poet in modern haiku history.