Contemprary Tanka Poet Mariko Kitakubo. Media coverage.
26, Nov. 2012 attended the P.E.N. Day social gathering hosted by the Japan P.E.N. club.
It was a distinct honor for me of meeting Professor Donald Keene at the gathering of the P.E.N. Day (hosted by the Japan P.E.N. Club).
I was very much moved with Prof. Keene's friendliness when he talked with each one of us, as well as his peace-loving, positive approach toward life.
Prof. Keene's wonderful personality attracted me like a magnet.
I strongly believe we devote ourselves even more than before into creation of Japanese literature, that Prof. Keene cherish and love.
Pressing Prof. Keene's words to my heart, I will keep making efforts for writing and reading Tanka.
Monday, November 26, 2012
"French Correspondence 36", a section in "KURENAI" Oct. 2012 (vol. 124)
Ms. Yasuko Kudaka, from whom I received lots of assistance when I visited France in Sept. 2012, contributed a wonderful article to "French Correspondence 36", a section in "KURENAI" Oct. 2012 (vol. 124),the tanka journal issued by Ms. Yoko Tamaki.It's really more honor than I deserve.
Below is the excerpted version of the article.
Sept. 21, Friday. Starting at 17:00, Japanese-French bilingual tanka reading performance session was held at the Centre Cultuel Italien in Quartier latin, Paris.Ms. Kitakubo chanted her own tanka in Japanese, and Mr. Antonio Francica, the Director of Centre Cultuel Italien, performed reading of the translated version of her works in French.
It was obvious that the translation was carefully done to refrect Ms. Kitakubo's message accurate. Audience expressed how much they were moved with their performance.
Since it was released as a Japanese-English bilingual event in the newsletter issued beforehand, many questions were asked to Ms. Kitakubo in English.
Some questions are,
"In which hierarchy in a society do those who read Tanka belong to?
Are they in a special circumstances?
Or, even common people write Tanka, too?"
"Do Emperor's family create Tanka?"
"When did Tanka started? How did it develop?"
"Are there any non-Japanese Haiku poets?
How about non-Japanese Tanka poets?"
There was a person who expressed how much he was moved.
"Ms. Kitakubo's Tanka is rooted from pure sincerity to wish for peace. I am deeply moved by her poems. I am filled with tranquility."
The more you hear or read her work, the deeper message you get from Ms. Kitakubo's tanka. For the purpose of interenationalization of Tanka, Ms. Kitakubo performed English-Japanese tanka reading many times in English-speaking countries.
I hope Tanka serves as a catalyst for the communication and interaction between Japanese-French, and with other language speakers. I sincerely wish it helps to create world's peace.
*I am so greatful to the assisntance of Mr. Metwally "Tsukasa" Gamal and Ms. Yasuko Kudaka for their amazing translation work into French.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
My tanka will be used at the concert to be held at “Ohmi Gakudo” hall in Tokyo Opera City.
It is a great offer from Ms. Yumi Nakamura, a music composer. She has been telling me she wants to put melody to my tanka for some time.
Concert for Grownups
| Date & Time | August 24, Friday 15:00 |
| Place | “Ohmi Gakudo” hall, 3rd Floor Tokyo Opera City |
| Music | Yumi Nakamura (Music Composer) |
| Lyrics | Mariko Kitakubo (Tanka Poet) |
| Vocal | Hideyuki Niki (Baritone Singer) |
I am truly happy at the very thought that my tanka works accompanied by wonderful music fill “Ohmi Gakudo”, a concert hall designed with the inspiration of chapel. I would like to extend my gratitude to Ms. Nakamura and Mr. Niki.
For the details, please refer to ACCEL web site.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Received a certificate from Tanka Society of America for The Tanka Cafe Member’s Choice Tanka. This is a great honor for me!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
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