更新日：2010年7月5日

Yamazaki Hodai

Tanka poet Yamazaki Hodai was born in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1914. After finishing upper elementary school, he began to concentrate on writing, joining the tanka group Chijo (This World), and contributing tanka verses and short stories to newspapers and magazines. He became a member of the Ichiro poetry society in 1934 and continued to write tanka while supporting himself with one job after another. In 1939, he went to live with his older sister in Yokohama, and brought out a mimeographed anthology of verse called Bansho kuriawase (At all cost) in an edition of 100 copies.

The poet was conscripted in 1941 and two years later lost the sight of his right eye during hostilities, which also left his other eye badly affected. After the war, he joined a number of tanka societies and resumed his creative activities. He financed the publication of his first tanka collection Hodai in 1955 and six years later, he came under the tutelage of Yoshino Hideo. In 1971, he joined Okabe Keiichiro and others in bringing out the coterie magazine Kansho (Temperate).

Hodai was a shining light in the postwar history of tanka, his verses characterized by the skilful use of colloquial language and reflecting his free-spirited lifestyle. His other works include the anthologies Ubaguchi, Korogi and Kasho, and a collection of essays, Aojiso no hana (Shiso flower). He died in 1985 at the age of 70. A society in his honor was founded after his death and it continues to publish a magazine devoted to the study of his works.

Yamazaki Hodai lived in Kamakura from 1972 until his death. A memorial stone dedicated to the poet stands in the grounds of Zuisenji Temple.