Let Those Who Appear

by Kazuko Shiraishi, Yumiko Tsumura (Translator), Samuel Grolmes (Translator)

Over twenty-five years ago New Directions, at the urging of Kenneth Rexroth, published Seasons of Sacred Lust, a selection of poems by a young Japanese writer, Kazuko Shiraishi. Since then the book has gone through several printings and toured around the world, accompanying Ms. Shiraishi to almost any country one can think of, places where she gave readings and participated in various poetry events. Indeed, because of Shiraishi's travels, Seasons is probably one of the most widely-distributed books in the New Directions catalog.However, by now Seasons has become dated. It has been followed by more than fifteen new collections and Shiraishi has matured beyond her early Beat-related work; her poetry has developed an impressive range and depth. Let Those Who Appear contains selections from various recently-published books as carefully translated by Yumiko Tsumura and Samuel Grolmes. The title poem is from Shiraishi's 1996 book which received three prestigious awards in Japan -- the Yomiuri Literature Award, the Takami Jun Poetry Award, and the Purple Ribbon Medal from the Emperor of Japan.

Genres: Poetry, Japan

49 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2002

About the author

Kazuko Shiraishi (白石 かずこ, Shiraishi Kazuko) is a Japanese poet and translator who was born in Vancouver, Canada. She is a modernist, outsider poet who got her start in Katsue Kitazono's "VOU" poetry group, which led Shiraishi to publish her first book of poems in 1951. She has also read her poetry at jazz performances. She has appeared at readings and literary festivals all over the world

Reviews

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[ryo narasaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

want to read more of her stuff. beat poet in jazz-era japan dated allen ginsburg, personal fashion style: "elizabeth" in the first austin powers movie.