Contemprary Tanka Poet Mariko Kitakubo. Reading Performance.
Tanka reading performance oveseas.
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On July 31, from 6 pm PST (August 1, from 10 am JST), I was invited to the 11th-anniversary reading event of Shabda Press, an American publisher, and performed a Japanese-English tanka reading. I appreciate all the help and support for the publication of INDIGO in 2016. It was my 6th collection of tanka poems and was the first anthology published without self-financing. The participants in the event were all poets who have been deeply involved in the company's publications. Deep, meaningful, and powerful messages in their unique and original poems moved my soul. I am very honored by the offer to publish a new collection in 2023. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Chúc Mỹ Tuệ, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Shabda Press. |
Please watch the video of the event!
1:04:00 Ms. Chúc Mỹ Tuệ's introduction about me
1:05:29 Japanese-English tanka reading (from INDIGO)
1:25:27 English haiku & tanka sequence with Ms. Deborah P. Kolodji
Monday, August 1, 2022
July 31st, 18:00 PST (August 1st 10:00 JST), I will participate in Shabda Press 11th Anniversary Reading Event and present a reading.
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
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On July 19, 2022, I presented a tanka reading performance in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, for about one hour from 18:00. I was happy to provide an opportunity for those who usually study haiku and poetry to experience the unique language rhythm and kimono culture of Japan. I would like to thank everyone who came to the event despite the extreme heat of 40℃ during the daytime, which is rare even for the local area. |
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
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On July 14, I participated in the Thursday Poetry Zoom Meeting hosted by Kathabela Wilson from Kassel, Germany, where I have been staying for a while. Although it was only for a short time, I read my English tanka poems and was inspired by other participants' creative works and Mr. Rick Wilson's performance on the transverse flute, Nahr. It was a precious and fruitful time. Thank you very much. |
Friday, July 15, 2022
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Starting at 7 p.m. on July 12, I present a Japanese-English-German tanka reading in Lübeck, Germany. It was my first visit to Lübeck, and I was very honored to have the opportunity. I would like to thank Ms. Hannah Rau, a poetry teacher and an artist, Ms. Heike Jurzik, a translator, and Ms. Karen MahaShakti Gärtner, a poet, for their efforts in making this event possible. |
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
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I had an opportunity to give my bilingual tanka reading performance overseas for the first time since the fall of 2019. Ms. Anna Maris, a Swedish poet I met at the British Haiku Society event in St. Albans, UK, three years ago, invited me to this creators' event in Tranas, Sweden. |
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Starting at 17:45 p.m. on July 7 (local time), I presented a reading performance of my previously-created and newly-created Japanese and English tanka poems for 30 minutes. The sensitive audience listened to my reading performance with tears in their eyes. I was glad that everyone enjoyed my presentation. After my presentation, we had free-talk time with the audience. It was a heartwarming time, and I enjoyed communicating with them. |
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After the event, I received a request to give another presentation to those who missed my performance. On July 8, I presented my reading performance again at a live music club after dinner. It was a grateful offer, and I did my best to give a Japanese-English tanka poem reading. |
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I am very honored that more than 100 people came to the event. |
Thursday, July 7, 2022
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May 18, 4:00 p.m. PST (May 19, 8:00 a.m. JST), I participated in the Wednesday Poetry Zoom Meeting hosted by Ms. Kathabela Wilson from Karuizawa where the leaves are bright green. I was fortunate to spend a rich and inspiring time enjoying improvised poems with everyone and presenting my new English tanka poems at the meeting. |
Thursday, May 19, 2022
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From 4 pm PST 2022.4.27 (8 am JST 2022.4.28), I participated in the Wednesday Poetry Zoom Meeting hosted by Ms. Kathabela Wilson and read a new piece of English haiku and tanka sequences that I had composed with Ms. Deborah P. Kolodji. I was also happy to have an opportunity to share with today's participants some of the collaborative works that we enjoyed in our previous poetry reading. Thank you all for a rich and inspiring time. |
Thursday, April 28, 2022
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From 4:00 pm PST on April 20 (8:00 am JST on April 21), I participated in the Wednesday Poetry Zoom Meeting hosted by Ms. Kathabela Wilson. We created a piece of English tanka sequence and another sequence of poems about wisteria flowers together with everyone. It was an exciting time, as we were inspired by each other's unique expressions, which developed in a flash. Thank you very much for everyone! |
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
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On April 19 at 7:30 pm PST (April 20 at 11:30 am JST), I participated in the Poetry Zoom event, Cobalt Poets Reading, presided at by Mr. Rick Lupert. Ms. Chúc Mỹ Tuệ was today's featured poet. She had made great efforts in the publication of "INDIGO" from Sabda Press. It was an enriching time for me. Her powerful and positive poetry based on her own history drew me into her world. I presented a reading with Ms. Deborah P. Kolodji of our 23rd English Haiku and Tanka sequence. |
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
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