The Art of Being Alone, Poems 1952-2009

New Japanese Horizons

by Shuntarō Tanikawa, Takako U. Lento (Translator)

This extensive selection of Tanikawa Shuntaro's poetry reflects the full depth and breadth of his work, from his appearance as a fresh new voice to the mastery of his later poetry. It traces his artistic development and his shift in focus from man's cosmic destiny to the pathos of everyday life and a more internalized struggle with the nature of human expression. Lovers of poetry will find the experience exhilarating. The only such collection in English, this volume will prove indispensable to students and scholars of Japanese literature, as it opens a valuable new perspective on postware Japanese literature. The Introduction clarifies the social and artistic background of Tanikawa's extraordinary work and career, illuminating major themes as his poetry evolves over time.

Genres: Poetry, Japan

328 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2011

About the author

Shuntarō Tanikawa was a Japanese poet and translator. He was considered to be one of the most widely read and highly regarded Japanese poets, both in Japan and abroad. The English translation of his poetry volume Floating the River in Melancholy, translated by William I. Elliott and Kazuo Kawamura and illustrated by Yoko Sano, won the American Book Award in 1989.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although there are a number of poems I felt were clunky in this collection, and the introduction, too, didn't read as smoothly as I thought it might – certainly not as smoothly as other introductions to the life and work of foreign poets and novelists I've read – these poems are excellent on more than enough occasions to highly recommend. Tanikawa's focus throughout on language, silence, and the cosmos, as well as his consistent use of a persona for his poetry, were especially interesting to me.

[Víctor Bermúdez · Rating 3 out of 5]

what cannot be learned
saturates
my mind that has lost interest in learning

[Black K · Rating 5 out of 5]

// Review //
Format: Softcover
From translation to format this collection of Shuntarō Tanikawa is something to behold and a hallmark of Takako Lento’s style. It was Takako Lento’s other work of “Pioneers of Modern Japanese Poetry” that brought me here and the same labor of love is felt throughout each book in this collection.

(This book is several publishings throughout Tanikawa’s life in one collection.)

Though I believe poetry, like art, is left to the reader’s interpretation and imagination there is a significant amount to universally appreciate here. From masterful word choice of capturing a moment of time, scenery, or seasons to the abstract of self, dreams and meaningfulness you’ll be left with a deep impression and personal inspiration because of its relatability. My recommendation, read each set of poems and think of Tanikawa’s age when he wrote it, you will see the evolving nature of his art and perspective. You will see the eccentric observations of Tanikawa’s youth, the displacement of non-self in his mid-life and the full circle it led him to in his final works which will really invoke thoughts in you on man, life and the cosmos. The art of loneliness is found in its vastness and ambiguity!

[Eadweard · Rating 4 out of 5]

---
who will glean my joy?
joy deserves to be returned to earth
then it won't rot all alone


---
this present moment torments me deep in my heart
is it because there is no need for words?
or is it because words fail me?


---
I desire so earnestly to live
yet today I feel it all right to die


---
there are things one can only say in letters
there are also questions one does not dare ask
if one wants to live on
in this world where stars mingle with shoe sores


---
everything moves on
just the way it is
heading towards memories


---
music never becomes a memory however much time passes
because it makes the present echo into the future


---
I like you weeping
just as much as I like you laughing
sorrows are around everywhere anytime
at some point they surely dissolve into joy

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was really cool to see how his poetry had changed and evolved with him throughout his life. that being said, because a handful of poems were selected from various collections and points in his journey as a poet and artist, there were definitely sections i did not enjoy and ones i loved. that makes it hard to give a general rating, but i ended up choosing a four because i liked the beginning and the end, and that's usually all i remember anyway.

[Ruth Bogan]

Did not enjoy this as much as I expected. A bit too ... what? Academic? Distant? Internal? Seems funny to say at this stage, but I seem to be trying hard to define what I really enjoy in poetry, and, in the process, discarding a lot.

[Shinji007 · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the introductory remarks to the poet, I found I was quite underwhelmed by much of the pieces. Maybe it reads better in its original language. This might be a book to revisit later.

[Sameen Shakya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Art of Being Alone is a collect of poems by the Japanese poet Tanikawa Shuntaro. It collects his poems written/published between 1952-2009.

Although I think of myself as an avid fan and lover of Japanese literature, my knowledge on Japanese poetry, especially modern and contemporary Japanese poetry has been woefully small. So, I did what any litterateur does; I dove in headfirst.

I discovered Shuntaro through a rudimentary Google search, read his wikipedia, looked up some of his poems and then got this book. Upon reading it, I discovered poems filled to the brim with the tiny moments of life.

These poems tickled me, truly. They feel alive. They feel naughty. They feel like a cat resting on your back as you lay on your stomach, napping.

What a great intro to Japanese poetry.