SPRING AND ASURA: HAIKUS FOR MIYAZAWA KENJI PART I

This bilingual haiku collection by this author is a memorial tribute to Miyazawa Kenji ("Kenji" hereafter; August 27, 1896-September 21, 1933), who is one of the most popular poets/writers in Japan. In his short life of 37 years, he wrote a plethora of poems and stories, of which Shinsho sketchi: Haru to shura (The Mental Sketch Modified: Spring and Asura, 1924) and Ginga testudo no yoru (Night on the Galactic Railroad, 1934) are among the best known.

This is Part 1 of a two-part haiku collection and contains 102 original haikus. These haikus are introduced in the chronological order of Kenji's life, in order to facilitate understanding the development of his religious and philosophical thoughts, as well as events in his life and his works. In so doing, it is hoped to illuminate Kenji's ideals and goals of his life and how they are reflected in his writings. In this sense, this is another "mental sketch modified" of Kenji. Enjoy!