The Chieko Poems

by Kotaro Takamura, John G. Peters (Translator)

Married to the feminist Naganuma Chieko, Takamura Kotaro modeled their relationship on sexual equality. In 1931 Chieko began to show signs of schizophrenia, which led to attempted suicide. In 1935 Takamura was forced to commit his wife, who died of tuberculosis three years later. These poems, centered on their relationship, are translated here for the first time.

Genres: Poetry, Japan, Japanese Literature

213 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1978

About the author

Kōtarō Takamura was a Japanese poet and sculptor.

He graduated from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts in 1902, where he studied sculpture. He studied in New York in 1906, London in 1907, and in Paris in 1908, returning to Japan in 1909, and lived there for the rest of his life.

His sculptural work shows strong influence both from Western work (especially Auguste Rodin, whom he idolized) and from Japanese traditions.

He is also famous for his poems, and especially for his collection Chiekosho (Chieko's sky) (1941), a collection of poems about his wife Chieko Takamura, who died in 1938.

Reviews

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such tender and touching poems about the institutionalization and death of Kotaro's wife.

[Harley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Japanese poet