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,
Tanka Society of America.
Tan-Ku Co-Founder
Tan-Ku Association, president

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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I participated in Thursday Poetry Zoom Meeting presided at by Ms. Kathabela Wilson. It was my 6th attendance.
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Every time, I get inspired by the fellow members. This is exactly why I can attend the meeting with a great joy every time, regardless the fact that it starts early in the morning, 5 a.m., Friday.
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Although we are living restricted and unrest days due to Corona virus, I am very glad to have opportunities to be able to refine my creative works in English. In this meeting, I performed reading of my new Tanka sequence under the theme of “Tokyo Alert.”

Personally, I am blessed with opportunities to polish up my translation skills because I translate my Tanka, which are originally written in English, back into Japanese.

To Ms. Kathabela Wilson, Mr. Rick Wilson, and fellow members. I really thank all of you.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

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I participated in the Friday Poetry Zoom Meeting presided at by Ms. Kathabela Wilson and performed reading of Japanese and English Tanka and my new sequence on May 29, 4 p.m. (May 30, 8 a.m., Japan time).

In the meeting, all the works presented by the fellow members inspired each other. Appraisals for work and exchanges of opinions were very meaningful. I had so much fun and 2-hour meeting flew by so quickly.
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In the meeting, Mr. Robert Stuart, a painter, presented his works, and Mr. Rick Wilson performed Native American flute. The pursuit for collaboration of multiple means of expression was very intriguing for me.

Friday, May 29, 2020

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On May 28, starting at 1:30 p.m., U.S. time (May 29, 5:30 a.m., Japan time), I participated in Thursday Poetry Zoom Meeting presided at by Ms. Kathabela Wilson, and performed Tanka reading both in English and Japanese.
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Because it starts early in the morning in Japan, I was not sure if I could continue attending the meeting when I started in the beginning of this month. However, I am now able to naturally cope with the time difference between the two countries.
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Activities with Zoom gives me a place to present my reading performance across the border. It is actually an unexpected and wonderful surprise for me.

I would like to make efforts to improve the level of completion of my work both in Japanese and in English.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

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On May 22 at 4 p.m. US, CA time (May 23, 8 a.m. Japan time), I participated in and performed bilingual tanka reading at Friday Poetry Meeting presided at by Ms. Kathabela Wilson.
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I recited my new tanka sequence, which I completed writing the night before, both in Japanese and in English. I was very glad that the participants enjoyed, and they gave me wonderful comments.
Although we are still under the restriction because of colona virus, it is a big encouragement for me as a reading performer to be given an opportunity to be able to present my work.
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Various styles of poems presented by the fellow members inspired me a lot.
Mr. Rick Wilson's Shakuhachi flute play was very moving, and gave me the seeds of new tanka.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you again in the next meeting. Thank you very much for the meaningful time.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

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I participated in Thursday Poetry Zoom Meeting on May 21, 1:30 p.m., US, CA time (May 22, 5:30 a.m., Japan Time), and performed tanka reading.
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I was a little late, but the fellow members welcomed me.
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To Ms. Kathabela Wilson and all the other participants. Thank you very much.
I will attend Friday Poetry Zoom Meeting tomorrow, to which the other poets join.

Friday, May 22, 2020

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Starting at 4:00 p.m. on May 15th U.S. time (8:00 a.m. on May 16th, Japan time), I participated in Friday Poetry Meeting and performed tanka reading.
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The fellow members presented their own style of poetry such as free-form poems, Tanka, Haiku, Cherita and such.

The style in which each one of us was inspired by each other worked out perfectly, and I enjoyed the session so much that I almost forgot the time passed by.
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To Ms. Kathabela Wilson who presided the meeting, Mr. Rick Wilson who greatly inspired us by playing Native American flute, and all the fellow members. Thank you very much for the meaningful time!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

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Thursday Poetry Meeting in US, CA time. on 14th, 1:30 p.m.~ (Japan time, 15th 5:30 a.m.~ )
As I did in last week, I participated in Thursday Poetry Meeting in U.S. presided at by Ms. Kathabela Wilson.
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Many pieces of very unique and distinctive poetry got together beyond the boundaries of distance and time.
In fact, I think that the interaction with fellow members rescues us from anxiousness.
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I felt that sharing poems by reciting them face-to-face, even the pieces inspired by horrible reality, helped me to slightly lighten up my mind.
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Friday, May 15, 2020

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As I did last week, I participated in Friday Poetry Zoom Meeting which is presided at by Ms. Kathabela Wilson at 4 p.m. on May 8, U.S. time (8 a.m. on May 9, Japan time).
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Free and active discussions were made on the poetry works presented. I was inspired a lot by their works, and had an opportunity to create two pieces of poems in two languages in the meeting. Although it was a virtual Zoom meeting, creating and reciting poems in the meeting was as exciting as real poetry meeting.
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I would like to extend my sincere gratitude toward Ms. Kathabela, Mr. Rick Wilson who played Shakuhachi flute, and all the participants to the meeting.

Monday, May 11, 2020

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I participated in Thursday Poetry Meeting by Zoom presided at by Ms. Kathabela Wilson. The attendants were the members of the poetry workshop at S. S. Japanese Garden, which I attend every time I visit Pasadena, California. I felt as if I went back to my hometown.
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It was my first participation of this Zoom session. It seems that the organizer was hesitated to invite me because of its starting time – 5:30 a.m. on May 8 in Japan. However, the session was so meaningful that I didn’t even think about time difference! I and Ms. Deborah P. Kolodji performed two sequences of Haiku & Tanka, which we created together.

Friday, May 8, 2020

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At 11 a.m. on May 7 Germany time (6 p.m. on the same day, Japan time) I participated in the Zoom Meeting which is presided at by Ms. Karen Mahashakti Gartner. Ms. Hanna, who has deep knowledge of poetry, and holds poetry workshops, joined the meeting. I hope they enjoyed my performance with percussion BGM.
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After the reading performance, she requested me to visit Germany to present reading performance for she wants the members of her poetry workshop to listen to my performance. She also told me she wants to plan a reading event for me some day in the future.
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I am very honored, and I would like to deepen exchange with her from now on. I would like to express my sincere gratitude toward Ms. Karen who offered me a wonderful opportunity to open up a new stage.

Friday, May 8, 2020