Haiku is renowned for both its simplicity and complexity. It is poetry that enlightens and open readers and writers to new perspectives. As an art form it has rapidly evolved from structured Japanese short-verse to an international phenomena that has hybridised with the many languages and literary techniques.
Since 2011 IAFOR has welcomed experts Hana Fujimoto and Emiko Miyashita to conduct Haiku Workshops at The Asian Conference on Literature (LibrAsia) in Japan.
IAFOR International Director of Programme for Arts & Humanities, Dr A. Robert Lee performed an in-depth interview with Fujimoto and Miyashita at LibrAsia2016 on the topic of haiku.
They begin their discussion by answering the not so simple question of, "What is haiku?" Fujimoto and Miyashita explain some of the basic differences between traditional Japanese and foreign-language approaches to the art form. They discuss how to evaluate haiku for its technical mastery and its emotional impact. Fujimoto and Miyahsita also share their personal histories with haiku and what inspired them to dedicated themselves to it. The interview then goes into a detailed conversation about the adoption of haiku by Western poets and the evolution it has seen in Japan and in the West. They cover famous poets like Taneda Santoka, Basho Matsuo, Masaoka Shiki, Jack Kerouac and more. The interview ends with advice and words of encouragement from Fujimoto and Miyashita for aspiring haiku writers.
Hana Fujimoto & Emiko Miyashita
Hana Fujimoto is a Councillor of the Haiku International Association, a member of the Japan Traditional Haiku Association and a writer for the haiku magazine “Tamamo”. Before joining the HIA, she worked as a researcher for the Tokyo Bureau of the New York Times.
Emiko Miyashita is a prominent and widely published haiku poet, as well as an award-winning translator who has given invited lectures and workshops around the world. She serves as a councillor for the Haiku International Association, as well as secretary of the Haiku Poets Association International Department in Tokyo. She is a dojin (leading member) of Ten’i (Providence) haiku group lead by Dr. Akito Arima, and also a dojin of the Shin (Morning Sun), haiku group lead by Dr. Akira Omine. From January 2008, until March 2010, she judged and wrote an English-language haiku column with Michael Dylan Welch every first Sunday in the Asahi weekly paper.
Hana Fujimoto and Emiko Miyashita were Featured Presenters at The Asian Conference on Literature 2016 (LibrAsia2016) in Kobe, Japan.
