Haiku (7 page)

K
ŌJI
(dates and details unknown).

K
ŌYŌ
. See
O
ZAKI
K
ŌYŌ
.

K
UBOTA
M
ANTARŌ
(1889–1963). Mantarō was born in Asakusa, Tokyo. After graduating from Keiō University, he became famous as a writer, dramatist, and also a stage producer. Mantarō's poems are characterized by their lyrical quality.

K
UBO
Y
ORIE
(1884–1967). Born in Matsuyama, Yorie met Shiki and Sōseki when she was young and became interested in haiku.

K
YORAI
(1651–1704). Born in Nagasaki, Kyorai moved to Kyoto at the age of eight and became known for his excellence in martial arts, astronomy, and general learning. He met Kikaku in 1684 and joined him to become one of the ten leading pupils of Bashō. He combined in his own verse the qualities of martial strength and poetic gentleness. Kyorai's writings about poetics became influential for later haiku masters.

K
YORIKU
(1656–1715). A samurai in the Hikone region (present-day Shiga Prefecture), Kyoriku excelled in the lance, sword, and horseback riding. He was also a good painter in the Kanō style. He studied haiku with Bashō.

K
YOSHI
. See
T
AKAHAMA
K
YOSHI
.

K
YŌTAI
(1732–92). A native of Nagoya, Kyōtai tried to elevate haiku from the vulgarity of his day and return to the excellence of Bashō. He also followed the lead of Buson in creating poems combining strength of imagery with keen observation of the world around him.

M
ANTARŌ
. See
K
UBOTA
M
ANTARŌ
.

M
ASAOKA
S
HIKI
(1867–1902). Despite the brevity of his life, Shiki became the most influential haiku poet and theorist of the late nineteenth century. He insisted that haiku poets should cultivate the keen observation (
shasei
) of nature. He established the famous haiku journal
Hototogisu
.

M
ATSUSE
S
EISEI
(1869–1937). A poet from Osaka, Seisei was a follower of Shiki and wrote haiku in traditional style, opposing radical change in the world of poetry. In 1902, he became the haiku editor of
The Asahi
newspaper.

M
EITEI
. See
T
SUKAKOSHI
M
EITEI
.

M
IZUOCHI
R
OSEKI
(1872–1919). Born in Osaka, Mizuochi Roseki studied haiku with Shiki. He was considered to be the leader of the Osaka haiku group of the time.

M
URAKAMI
K
IJŌ
(1865–1938). Born as the eldest son of a low-ranking samurai in Tottori, Kijō suffered from constant poverty. He was an early representative of the haiku journal
Hototogisu
.

N
AKAMURA
T
EI-JO
(1900–1988). Born in Kumamoto, Tei-jo joined the haiku journal
Hototogisu
. She promoted women's haiku writing through mass media.

N
AO-JO
(dates and details unknown).

N
ATSUME
S
ŌSEKI
(1867–1916). The most famous novelist of his time, Sōseki studied in England and later taught English literature in Japan. Less known as a haiku poet, he nevertheless wrote many fine verses.

O
GIWARA
S
EISENSUI
(1884–1976). Born in Tokyo, Seisensui graduated from Tokyo University, majoring in linguistics. He advocated free-style haiku. Taneda Santōka was one of his followers. He wrote widely on Issa and Bashō.

O
KADA
Y
ACHŌ
(1882–1960). Born in Tsuyama City, Yachō started composing
senryū
in his early twenties. He engaged in farming and was a gentle person known for
senryū
with topics taken from his daily life.

O
NITSURA
(1661–1738). At the age of eight, Onitsura began to learn haiku. At thirteen, he became a pupil of Matsue Shigeyori, and he also received instructions from Kitamura Kigin and Nishiyama Sōin. In 1865, Onitsura stated that he came to realize that sincerity was the most important quality in poetry. Thus, his haiku poems were written in a simple and straightforward style.

O
NTEI
. See
S
HINOHARA
O
NTEI
.

O
TSUYŪ
(1675–1739). Also known as Bakurin, Otsuyū was a priest at Ise. He studied with Bashō when Bashō visited his area. He also painted
haiga
.

O
ZAKI
H
ŌSAI
(1885–1926). Spending his life working at temples, Ozaki Hōsai wrote haiku noted for their free form and direct language.

O
ZAKI
K
ŌYŌ
(1867–1903). Known primarily for his novels such as
Golden Demon
, written in colloquial style, Kōyō was also a fine haiku poet during his short life.

R
AIZAN
(1654–1716). A merchant in Osaka, Raizan started with comical and witty haiku but later changed to a more serious style close to Bashō's.

R
AKUKYO
(dates and details unknown).

R
ANKŌ
(1726–98). Born in Kanazawa, Ronkō later moved to Kyoto, where he practiced medicine. He promoted Bashō's haiku style by compiling the master's writings.

R
ANSETSU
(1654–1707). Ransetsu studied painting with Hanabusa Itchō, a famous painter, and haiku under Bashō. Ransetsu also studied Zen Buddhism, and its influence is discernible in his later haiku. He was one of the disciples whom Master Bashō highly appreciated, and is known for his gentle and sophisticated poetic style.

R
ITŌ
(1681–1755). An Edo poet, Ritō was one of the pupils of Ransetsu. One of his followers was Ryōta.

R
OSEKI
. See
M
IZUOCHI
R
OSEKI
.

R
YŌKAN
(1758–1831). Born in Echigo, present-day Niigata Prefecture, Ryōkan became a Zen monk. He spent his life, full of interesting episodes (some of which are legendary), in poverty as an itinerant monk. His poems are full of a wonderful free spirit. Ryōkan also excelled in
waka
poetry, Chinese poetry, and calligraphy.

R
YŌTA
(1718–87). When young, Ryōta moved to Edo (Tokyo) and studied with Ritō, Ransetsu's pupil. He then became a haiku teacher and was reported to have many pupils under him.

S
AIMARO
(1656–1738). Born to a samurai household, Saimaro studied haiku with Ihara Saikaku, the famous fiction writer and haiku poet of the time. Saimaro also kept an association with Bashō. Later in his life, he enjoyed considerable power in the Osaka haiku world.

S
ANO
R
YŌTA
(1890–1954). Born in Niigata Prefecture, Ryōta was known for his fresh expressions of nature.

S
ANPŪ
(1647–1732). A pupil and patron of Bashō, Sanpū provided the master with his famous cottage Bashō-an (Banana Plant Hermitage).

S
ANTŌKA
. See
T
ANEDA
S
ANTŌKA
.

S
EIBI
(1749–1816). Born into a wealthy family, Seibi associated with Shirao and Kyōtai. He was known as one of the three great haiku poets of his day along with Michihiko and Sōchō. He was Issa's benefactor.

S
EIFU-JO
(1731–1814). Born in Musashi Province, Seifu-jo studied with Chōsui and Shirao. Her haiku style is often highly subjective and personal.

S
EISEI
. See
M
ATSUSE
S
EISEI
.

S
EISENSUI
. See
O
GIWARA
S
EISENSUI
.

S
EISHI
. See
Y
AMAGUCHI
S
EISHI
.

S
EIUN
(dates and details unknown).

S
EKITEI
. See
H
ARA
S
EKITEI
.

S
ENGAI
G
IBON
(1750–1837). A Zen master from Kyushu, Sengai became beloved for his paintings, which often show his delightful sense of humor.

S
HADŌ
(died 1737?). A poet and doctor in Ōmi (present-day Shiga Prefecture) area, Shadō studied haiku under Bashō and participated in Bashō's haiku-composing gatherings. He published one of Bashō's well-known anthologies,
Hisago
(Gourd).

S
HIGEYORI
(1602–80). Born in Matsue, Shigeyori lived most of his life in Kyoto. He studied haiku with Teitoku. He later compiled Bashō's haiku, and had fine haiku pupils such as Onitsura.

S
HIKI
. See
M
ASAOKA
S
HIKI
.

S
HIKŌ
(1665–1731). After serving as a Zen monk at Daichi-ji, Shikō became a doctor, later meeting and becoming a disciple of Bashō. When told he might be reborn as an animal if he did not lead a pure life, Shikō observed that it might well be an improvement.

S
HINKEI
(1406–75). A linked-verse (
renga
) poet, Shinkei was an influential figure for the next generation of the linked-verse poets, such as Sōgi.

S
HINOHARA
O
NTEI
(1872–1926). Born in Kumamoto Prefecture, Ontei worked for a newspaper company in Tokyo and studied haiku under Shiki and Kyoshi.

S
HIRAO
(1738–91). Born in Shinano (present-day Nagano Prefecture) and studying haiku in Edo (Tokyo), Shirao later traveled to many areas and vigorously taught haiku. He wrote several manuscripts on haiku theory that emphasized naturalness of expression.

S
HIRŌ
(1742–1812). Born in Nagoya, Shirō practiced medicine. He studied haiku with Kyōtai and was also known for his skill in playing the
biwa
(lute).

S
HISHŌSHI
(1866–1928). Born in Tokyo, Shishōshi was very active in promoting
senryū
and mentored many poets.

S
HŌHA
(died 1771). Shōha studied Chinese poems with Hattori Nankaku. A beloved haiku pupil of Buson, Shōha died before his teacher, and Buson thereupon wrote a preface for Shōha's collected haiku that became very famous. Shōha's own poems show his keen visual sense.

S
HOKYŪ
(1741–81). Born in Echigo (present-day Niigata Prefecture), Shokyū took the tonsure after her husband's death. She also traveled widely.

S
HŪSHIKI-JO
(1669–1725?). Shūshiki-jo studied with Kikaku, and she married the haiku poet Kangyoku, also a pupil of Kikaku. Shūshiki-jo's poems became famous for their gentle and humane observations of everyday life.

S
ŌCHŌ
(1761–1814). The son of the famous calligrapher Yamamoto Ryōsai, Sōchō became a successful artist and haiku poet in Edo (Tokyo).

S
ODŌ
(1642–1716). Born in Kai, Sodō moved to Edo (Tokyo) and became associated with Bashō.

S
ŌGI
(1421–1502). A highly respected linked-verse (
renga
) master and literary theorist, Sōgi excelled in calligraphy. He was also very well learned in classical poetry, and he lectured to many nobles and high officials, including a shogun. Sōgi's linked-verse collection
Minase Sangin Hyakuin
(One Hundred Verses by Three Poets at Minase), which he composed with two other masters, represents a high point of linked verse.

S
ŌKAN
(1458?–1546?). From a samurai family, Sōkan served the shogun Ashikaga Yoshihisa. After his father's death, however, Sōkan became a monk and lived the rest of his life in a hermitage, where he developed a new form of simplified linked-verse (
renga
) poetry. In time he became considered the inventor of haiku.

S
ORA
(1649–1710). Giving up his life as a samurai, Sora went to Edo (Tokyo) and studied Shintō and
waka
with Kikkawa Koretaru. Later, Sora became a pupil of Bashō and often traveled with his teacher on haiku journeys.

S
ŌSEKI
. See
N
ATSUME
S
ŌSEKI
.

S
ŌSHI
(dates and details unknown).

S
UGITA
H
ISA-JO
(1890–1946). A poet in the coterie of Takahama Kyoshi, Sugita Hisa-jo married a painter. Her haiku style has a rich romantic flavor.

T
AIGI
(1709–71). Born in Edo (Tokyo), Taigi moved to the entertainment district of Kyoto, where he became associated with Buson. He is known for his haiku on human affairs.

T
AKAHAMA
K
YOSHI
(1874–1959). Kyoshi was one of the masters of the haiku tradition in the late Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa periods. The name Kyoshi was given him by Masaoka Shiki. Kyoshi inherited Shiki's haiku magazine
Hototogisu
and continued Shiki's literary circle, where writers and poets reviewed their own works. Kyoshi also wrote novels and essays, but was most celebrated for his poems, which were traditional in style but fresh in spirit.