Reading performance in Japan and overseas. Mariko Kitakubo

Mariko Kitakubo Profile

Mariko Kitakubo

Born in Tokyo.
Living in Mitaka-city, Tokyo
Membership
Japan Writers' Association,
Japan PEN Club,
Association of Contemporary Tanka Poets,
Japan Tanka Poets' Society,
Kokoro-No-Hana,
Tan-Ku Co-Founder,
Tanka Society of America.

In commemoration of
15 years of tanka reading
The Latest Tanka Sequence
Original Tanka presented at
Spoken World Live

Contemprary Tanka Poet Mariko Kitakubo. Reading Performance.

Tanka reading performance oveseas.

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On July 11, 2023, the excellent painter Ms. Susan Dobey, whom I have known for a long time, invited me to her art gallery and gave a tanka reading performance for those who rarely have a chance to listen to tanka poetry.

I was very happy to have the opportunity to perform Tan-Ku's reading from DISTANCE, which I co-authored with Ms. Deborah P. Kolodji.

For background music, Mr. Rick Wilson played an old Native American vertical flute in addition to my percussion.
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From Tan-Ku Collection, " DISTANCE"

In the Wind

wild dogs
can smell
our wildness
the traces of us
in ruined cities

   a mockingbird
   learns a new song
   refugees

it might
be raining ashes
across the sea
across the border
settled in time

   wings of planes
   wings of birds
   no doves

waiting
for a twig of
olive
shining green
forgogtten ark

   new skies
   condors return
   from near-extinction

  

Move to "Reading Performance"

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

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On July 6, 2023, I participated as a featured poet in "Poetry in Nature," a reading event organized by Ms. Teresa Mei Chuc of Shabda Press and Ms. Deborah P. Kolodji.

Two of our good friends, and excellent poets, Ms. Lois P. Jones and Ms. Mary Torregrossa, were delighted to participate in this event, which also served as a celebration of the publication of the book "DISTANCE," which I co-authored with Ms. Deborah P. Kolodji, published by Shabda Press.

20230706_02.png I am deeply grateful to them for their inspiring and healing performances.

Thank you to all those who participated in the open mic and to the audience who enjoyed it. Thank you very much.

  

Move to "Reading Performance"

Friday, July 7, 2023

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On July 2nd, Ms. Deborah P Kolodji and I performed Tan-Ku reading at Haiku Northern America Tanka Monday Eve in Cincinati.
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HNA Tanka Monday 2023 schedule.

 

Move to "Reading Performance"  

Monday, July 3, 2023

On July 6th, I will perform reading at POETRY IN NATURE in WHITTIER NARROWS NATURE CENTER.

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Move to "Reading Performance"

Saturday, July 1, 2023

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On June 30th, Ms. Deborah P Kolodji and I presented reading some pieces from our Tan-Ku Collection, "DISTANCE," at the HNA Haiku Northern America Conference in Cincinnati before our reading performance on July 2nd, 2023.

I am delighted to announce that this location marked the 55th city of my reading performance activity across the world.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the event organizer and all the participants who listened to our Tan-Ku reading.

  

Move to "Reading Performance"

Saturday, July 1, 2023

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On April 16, I presented a reading performance for the commemoration of "DISTANCE" publication at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, San Diego.

So many audiences gathered for this, including the San Diego poetry group, and I was so honored. Thank you very much.
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This is a view of the Japanese garden arranged on the expansive grounds.

  

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Monday, April 17, 2023

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April 14, I presented reading sessions twice at Descanso Gardens in California, the U.S., in its event "Shiki, The Four Seasons in Japanese Art."
Each session was about half an hour long.

I was very grateful for the fine weather and the number of the audience at the event.
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After the Descanso Garden event, I received awards from California State Legislature. It was a total surprise for me, and I could not find words to express how much honor I felt.

My sincere gratitude for the recognition. Thank you very much.
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A part of the on-going event "Shiki, The Four Seasons in Japanese Art" at Descanso Gardens.

  

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Saturday, April 15, 2023

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On April 13th evening, Ms. Kathabela Wilson invited Ms. Deborah P Kolodji and me to her residence and we performed the first Tan-Ku reading.

It was very important and meaningful for me as the preparation for Descanso Gardens Shiki Museum event on the following day, and the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, San Diego on April 16th.

  

Move to "Reading Performance"

Friday, April 14, 2023


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On October 26, from 4:00 p.m. PST (October 27, from 8:00 a.m. JST), I participated in the Wednesday Poetry Meeting hosted by Kathabela Wilson and read three pieces of new tanka and haiku sequences that I composed with Ms. Deborah P. Kolodji.

Many comments and opinions were raised by the participants, and I think it was a meaningful opportunity for me because I was able to realize once again poetry is a way to inspire each other through our creativity regardless of the language in which the poems are written. Thank you very much.

I would like to devote myself even more to creating poems keeping in mind my pride, responsibility, and confidence as a Tanka poet.

After the meeting, Ms. Kathabela Wilson posted a wonderful message:

Amazing Wednesday meeting Poets on site zoom welcoming, grateful listening to three beautiful sequences "Tan-Ku" (tanka/ Haiku sequences) by Mariko Kitakubo in Tokyo, Japan, and Deborah P Kolodji, Temple City, California, with discussion and questions, heart to heart with Kris Kondo Maxianne Berger, Sigrid Saradunn , Richard Matta, Rita Melisiano. Beautiful performance including Mariko percussion, and inspirations from Rick Wilson on jade Chinese dizi , hummingbirds and squirrels and your Kathabela! We started with a short collaborative session of cherita and gembun collaboratively writing little 4 and 6 line stories in real time on a shared screen by Mariko, Kris, Maxianne, Debbie, Rita, and Kathabela. This meeting began inside our living room gallery, with the last half hour out on our balcony! That's when the hummingbirds and squirrels joined in!

  

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Thursday, October 27, 2022

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On August 6 at 3:00 pm PST (August 7 at 7:00 am JST), Mr. Rick Lupert, a poet, hosted the Hiroshima Day Zoom reading event. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Lupert for selecting me as one of the four performers, including the organizer, for the event.

I put my heart and soul into my Japanese-English tanka reading performance to deliver my message beyond the language.

Mr. Lupert's poems about his experience in Hiroshima were so moving that I almost shed tears. The songs & guitar performances by Ms. Cantor Aviva Rosenbloom and Mr. Joel Siegel were truly soul-stirring and inspirational.

It was a deep and intense time that made me realize once again that there are no national borders in our hearts for peace and prayers to appease the precious souls that took away from us.

Thank you all for this precious time.

 

Please watch the event video on Facebook.

Hiroshima Day Commemoration and Reading from The Tokyo-Van Nuys Express

Although the video froze for a while in the middle of my performance, the audience commented that they could feel the spirit of the reading from the audio alone. In a sense, it was an unintended experimental effect for me.

  

Move to "Reading Performance"

Sunday, August 7, 2022