The Poet Hagiwara Sakutarö

Catalog note / 解説

Hagiwara Sakutarö (1886-1942), considered by many critics to be the father of modern Japanese poetry), was a respected writer of free-style verse. He was among the first poets to break away from the traditional, strictly metered forms of Japanese poetry, such as the tanka and haiku, and was deeply influenced by European nihilistic philosophies. Hagiwara published many volumes of essays, literary and cultural criticism, and aphorisms during the course of his career and focused on abstract, metaphysical themes. His major works of poetry, written in 1917 and 1923, were Howling at the Moon and Blue, the former of which was illustrated by Onchi Köshirö. A prestigious literary prize in the poet’s…