Issa's Best: A Translator's Selection of Master Haiku, Print Edition

by Kobayashi Issa, David G. Lanoue (Translator)

This book is a guided tour through the work of Japanese haiku master Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828), gathering together in one text his most effective and evocative verses. After an introduction to Issa's poetry and life, the translator, David G. Lanoue, presents 1,210 haiku culled from his on-line archive of 10,000. Lanoue writes, "Issa is a poet who speaks to our common humanity in a way that is so honest, so contemporary, his verses might have been written this morning. Basho is the most revered of the haiku poets of Old Japan, but Issa is the most loved."

Genres: Poetry

219 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2012

About the author

Kobayashi Issa was a Japanese poet known for his haiku poems and journals. He is regarded as one of the four haiku masters in Japan, along with Bashō, Buson and Shiki. Reflecting the popularity and interest in Issa as man and poet, Japanese books on Issa outnumber those on Buson, and almost equal those on Bashō.

Although better known by his pen name Issa, he was born Kobayashi Yataro in 1763 on a farm in central Japan.

Reviews

[Andrii Litvynchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

З перших сторінок був вражений цими хайку. Ісса вдалось і вкласти в них відбитки світу, і поетично наповнити їх сенсами, так що більшість творів було ще приємніше смакувати. Шкода, що українською перекладено так мало.

«Не плач, цвіркунчику!
Бо навіть у зірок
Кохання без розлуки не буває»

[Bill Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commuting to and from work via bus can be challenging for my focus. People yell, speak loudly on their phones or just to no one in particular. Babies cry and sirens wizz by. Rarely do we enjoy 45 minutes of tranquility. So a novel would be difficult to read. Haiku is perfect. Issa is terrific and got me through many commutes. I like how the chapters followed the seasons so I learned more about seasonal words and images. Reading many haiku at a sitting is meditative, reading Issa is truly peaceful.

[Daniel Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

The translator’s introduction states Basho is the most revered haiku poets of Old Japan, but Issa is the most loved. After finishing this book I clearly understand the reasons this statement is true. Really enjoyed Issa’s snarky sense of humor.

[Lost Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional translation capturing Issa's many moods.

[Matthew Stolte · Rating 5 out of 5]

What with 1,210 poems, this collection is a welcome edition to titles that are slight.

[Gerry Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite Haiku poet of old Japan. Genius.

[Ben Gaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of the master's work. An essential read for haiku poets of all levels. What I found so refreshing are the number of poems on the same theme which goes to show that you can never write too many haiku.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lyrical and beautiful like I expected. What I didn't expect was the wry, crisp humor and the wonderfully human imagery. A great read.