Contemprary Tanka Poet 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. Article details.

May 18, Tanka reading & workshop at Graduate School of Hosei Univ.

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I was very honored to have received an offer from Prof. Masanori Odani of Graduate School of Hosei University to do tanka-reading presentation and talk session, "Getting familiar with Tanka".
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The time given to me was 200 minutes. Of course, it was the longest presentation time I have ever had!
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There were more than 60 attendants, most of whom were postgraduate students from abroad.

Since most of them have never had an chance to learn Tanka before this day, I presented reading of some pieces from Manyo-shu and representative contemporary tanka. I also explained how to express one's feeling in the form of a five-line poem with the 5-7-5-7-7 sound unit structure.

A talk with Prof. Michi Shiina was also a part of my presentation.
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Prof. M. Odani introduced me to the attendants.
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The students listened to me very carefully and sincerely. Laughter arouse many time, and the classroom was filled with cozy and friendly atmosphere.
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The attendants perticipated in composing tanka so actively that we run out of the worksheet I prepared beforehand! It was very much happy with their enthusiasm.

I would be very happy if it turned out to be a meaningful time for all the attendants.