A Future of Ice: Poems and Stories of a Japanese Buddhist

by Kenji Miyazawa, Hiroaki Sato (Translator)

Three stories accompany a selection of poems by the early twentieth century writer

Genres: Poetry, Japan

254 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

His name is written as 宮沢賢治 in Japanese, and translated as 宮澤賢治 in Traditional Chinese.

Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) was born in Iwate, one of the northernmost prefectures in Japan. In high school, he studied Zen Buddhism and developed a lifelong devotion to the Lotus Sutra, a major influence on his writing. After graduating from an agricultural college, he moved to Tokyo to begin his writing career but had to return home to care for a sick sister. He remained in his home in Iwate for the rest of his life. One of his best-known works is the novel Night on the Galactic Railroad, which was adapted into anime in the late twentieth century, as were many of his short stories. Much of his poetry is still popular in Japan today.

Reviews

[frank ciccarelli]

why have i never heard of this guy? he's one of Japan's most beloved poets ... an amazing find ...

When I put on my coat
and went out of my house
only Canis Major
was shining out of
black clouds torn to pieces ...

[Eric Hinkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

He's recently become one of my favorite children's writers, and the three stories in this book are wonderful. However, I could not for the life of me get into most of his poetry represented here. The poems I liked, I really liked, but the majority didn't do much for me at all. Strange. He's a quite beloved poet in Japan, and even many Westerners praise his poetry.

I'll try again in a few years.

[Greg Bem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I'm not a huge fan of the style of poetry here, as it is neither crispy zen minimalism or wild abstraction, I find the poetry of Kenji Miyazawa, translated via Hiroaki Sato, to be quite *real*. That is, it feels incredible authentic and appealing. The collection as a whole cover much, though leaves us with a taste the begs for more. I look forward to future encounters.

[Casper · Rating 3 out of 5]

why do you deliberately take from the bright sky the sorrow that shall never be cured?

[Stephen Rowland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the early tanka are nice and evocative, the 3 meager short stories included have a certain charm but are understandably childish, however the free verse that makes up the overwhelming majority of this collection is awful.