Masaoka Shiki 正岡子規
正岡子規 Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902)
Haiku poet and poet of the Meiji era. He is one of the most important literary figures of the Meiji era, and has had a profound influence on modern Japanese literature. Born in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. He dropped out of the Department of Japanese Literature, Tokyo University. He became acquainted with 夏目漱石 Natsume Soseki at a university prep school. In 1885, he began to write haiku and tanka. He had his first hemoptysis in August. In 1892, he joined the Nihon Shinbun (Japanese newspaper), and started a movement for haiku innovation in the paper. He wrote "Haiku poet Buson", in which he rediscovered the charm of the Edo haiku poet 与謝蕪村 Yosa Buson. From 1895 onward, he was ill in bed, and his haiku activities centered on "Hototogisu" which was first published in 1897. He was an innovator in tanka poetry and advocated sketch haiku and sketch writing. He took the name "子規 Shiki" after the Hototogisu, which is commonly said to sing until it coughs up blood. September 1902: Died. Aged 34.
Haiku poet and poet of the Meiji era. He is one of the most important literary figures of the Meiji era, and has had a profound influence on modern Japanese literature. Born in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. He dropped out of the Department of Japanese Literature, Tokyo University. He became acquainted with 夏目漱石 Natsume Soseki at a university prep school. In 1885, he began to write haiku and tanka. He had his first hemoptysis in August. In 1892, he joined the Nihon Shinbun (Japanese newspaper), and started a movement for haiku innovation in the paper. He wrote "Haiku poet Buson", in which he rediscovered the charm of the Edo haiku poet 与謝蕪村 Yosa Buson. From 1895 onward, he was ill in bed, and his haiku activities centered on "Hototogisu" which was first published in 1897. He was an innovator in tanka poetry and advocated sketch haiku and sketch writing. He took the name "子規 Shiki" after the Hototogisu, which is commonly said to sing until it coughs up blood. September 1902: Died. Aged 34.
