Here’s this month’s poetry post from our friend, poet and translator, Keiji Minato. This will be the last post on Deep Kyoto this year. Happy holidays and see you all safely in 2012! Haifu-Yanagidaru (『誹風柳多留』; 1765-1840) is a collection of maeku-dsuke (前句付), which are now commonly called ko-senryu (古川柳; old senryu). It is not one book but a series of 165 volumes … [Read more...] about Kyoto as depicted in “Haifu-Yanagidaru”
Keiji Minato
A Ginko, at Seishu Netsuke-kan
Here’s this month’s poetry post from our friend, poet and translator, Keiji Minato. Have you tried a ginko (吟行)? A ginko is a group excursion to make haiku or senryu: you visit a landmark, a museum exhibition, or any place of interest and write poems based on the experience. Usually, a kukai (句会; a haiku or senryu meeting) takes place afterwards, and you can share your works … [Read more...] about A Ginko, at Seishu Netsuke-kan
“Denga-ka Sanshu” by Yosa Buson
Here’s this month’s poetry post from our friend, poet and translator, Keiji Minato. My first article for Deep Kyoto took up the topic of YOSA Buson's (1716-1784) hokku (or haiku). As it says, and you all probably know, Buson was a great haiku master and painter, and I would like to add here that he was also an experimental poet who tried poetic styles that had never … [Read more...] about “Denga-ka Sanshu” by Yosa Buson
Ikkyu Sojun’s Kyo’unshu
Here's this month's poetry post from our friend Keiji Minato. Ikkyu Sojun (一休宗純; 1394-1481) is one of the most famous monks in the history of Japan. Since his lifetime countless legends have been told about his weird acts and unmatchable wits. For contemporary Japanese he has become the most familiar figure as a Buddhist monk through the television anime series Ikkyu-san … [Read more...] about Ikkyu Sojun’s Kyo’unshu
Chidzuko Ueno’s Book of Haiku, Eldorado
Here's this month's Kyoto poetry post by our friend Keiji Minato! Haiku is a well-established poetic form in Japan. Japanese newspapers call for haiku submissions, and a large number of amateur poets send them their works to be chosen for publication by famous masters. There are some TV programs specializing in haiku, for which big events are often held and big … [Read more...] about Chidzuko Ueno’s Book of Haiku, Eldorado
