Ishikawa Takuboku: 2 works in the original Japanese, with translation
Takuboku Ishikawa (born Hajime Ishikawa; February 20, 1886 – April 13, 1912) was a Japanese poet known for both tanka and "modern-style" (shintaishi) or "free-style" (jiyūshi) poetry. He began as a member of the Myōjō group of naturalist poets, later joined the "socialistic" group of Japanese poets and renounced naturalism, and died of tuberculosis.
Works in the library
Cultural notes (selection)
A famous work of ningyō jōruri puppet theatre by Chikamatsu Monzaemon (later also adapted for kabuki), telling the story of the double suicide of the courier (an old term for a messenger who delivered letters and packages) Chūbei and the prostitute Umegawa.
The title translates literally as "poems that should be eaten." Here "食う" means to make a living, to earn one's daily bread. In this essay Takuboku criticises the new-style poetry of his day for being detached from life and lost in idle fancy, arguing that poetry should be closely tied to everyday livelihood.