dumbfoundry

Debating the life of a long-deceased poet:

NEW YORK -- Inuhiko Yomota, one of the most well-read and prolific writers I know, was in town, and when I said I am working on a new book on the poet Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933), he told me that his friend, Masahiko Nishi, has written a book arguing that Miyazawa expressed strong anticolonialism through his children's stories. Miyazawa is famous for both genres of poetry and story-telling in equal measure.

I saw at once why such an argument may be made. Miyazawa is unique among 20th century Japanese poets because of the tendency to turn him into "a saint." The hagiography started a mere several years after his death, but recent years have also seen the suggestion that he most likely would have ended up a supporter of Japan's militarism had he not died at age 37 -- a year after Japan "recognized" the government it had set up in Manchuria through military machinations. [...]

Scenery (Kenji Miyazawa, tr. Bill Fryer)

Cunning clouds, made of acid
Cherries bloom and shine in the sun
As the wind blows the grass,
Clipped angelica trees tremble
We piled manure in the sandy soil
(the whole scene forms a picture on blue glass)
Like dum dum bullets
Skylarks shoot into the air!
Wind whistles in the spiritless sky
Golden grass shivers
The devious clouds are made of acid
Cherry blossoms shine in the sun country style

Who is Miyazawa Kenji?

This entry was posted by eeksypeeksy on Monday, September 27, 2004 at 9:28 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.