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Shuntaro Tanikawa, 91, is a poet who has been creating works for 70 years, from 1950 to the 2020s. Many of his works have been translated abroad. On January 30, 2023, a symposium entitled “Now is the time to read Tanikawa Shuntaro again!” was held at Waseda University’s Ono Auditorium
Panelists included writer Genichiro Takahashi, poets Hiromi Ito, Yasuhiro Yotsumoto, and Martha Nakamura, and Professor Mariko Ozaki of Waseda University, all longtime readers who have referred to Tanikawa’s poetry in their own writings. The event was attended by a total of more than 120 people, including the speakers and Waseda University students in charge of the performance. The venue was filled with enthusiasm and warm laughter for more than three hours.
In the panel discussion following the opening address by Professor Miho Matsunaga, the question arose as to why, in contrast to Tanikawa’s high profile, he has not received sufficient critical acclaim to date. An interesting discussion ensued on this difficult question.
Yasuhiro Yotsumoto said, “When I met Tanikawa’s poems at the age of 16, they taught me the very essence of life. Tanikawa is a unique thinker unparalleled in Japan, and beyond literature.” Genichiro Takahashi humorously commented, “Tanikawa is not afraid to write poems beyond the times and time frames, which have been an issue for ‘contemporary poetry.’ That is why he did not fit into the category of criticism or time frame as generally practiced in poetry magazines. He could jump over even 10,000 years in a single line,” introducing the following short piece:
A four-wheel-drive car designed by Aeschylus / Climbed the amphitheater stairs without a winch / There is such a thing in Western civilization / Of course you know this is not a conclusion based on observation / Or not? Get it straight! (January 26th in Shimekuri, 1984)
Martha Nakamura, a graduate of Waseda University, said, “When I was in nursery school, my mother recommended Listening (Mimi wo sumasu) to me. Tanikawa’s books had always been as familiar to me as a pebble on the side of the road, but they were also somewhat scary. Given the scariness, I was drawn to them as a child, and many of his picture books taught me about the world as a whole.” Professor Ozaki said, “Tanikawa has represented the sensitivities of the people of Japan and the world of his time and has continued to express them in words. Before I knew it, the era had become the color tone and taste of the everyday landscape as he wrote. One such product line is “MUJI,” and it is interesting to note that the founder of this brand was also a contemporary poet, Takashi Tsujii (Seiji Tsutsumi),” conveying the great presence of “poetry.”
After an intensive discussion on Shi ni tsuite, an important collection of poems published in 2015, six including students from the School of Culture, Media and Society and graduate students from the Graduate School of Arts and Letters gave a performance on stage, reciting their own poems inspired by Tanikawa’s works in a highly individualistic manner, using musical instruments and theatrical techniques. The high standard of creation and performance was applauded by the audience, who were also given a handmade “Commemorative Poetry Collection: Now is the time to read Tanikawa Shuntaro again!” The participating members, three men and three women, were all young people who had studied poetry creation at Waseda University under the tutelage of Hiromi Ito. Ito said, “Recently, I often ask Tanikawa about how to die. But at Waseda, young people are inspired by Tanikawa and try to survive by writing poetry. I believe that this performance was made possible because Tanikawa, the poet, lives and continues to write,” expressing her gratitude and admiration.
Also in attendance in the front row were Professor Jeffrey Angles of West Michigan University and Associate Professor Kendall Heitzman of the University of Iowa (both poets), who were in Japan, as well as Professor Nobuaki Tochigi of Waseda University. When asked to make a closing statement, Tochigi said, “Tanikawa’s works are read everywhere, even in the United States. That is hundreds of times more wonderful than being criticized.”
Although it lasted more than three hours, it was a very fruitful half-day event, where we once again confirmed the power of Shuntaro Tanikawa, one of the leading poets of our time, and his poetry.
Event Overview
- Date and time: January 30, 14:00-17:00 (JST)
- Speaker: Hiromi Ito, Mariko Ozaki, Genichiro Takahashi, Yasuhiro Yotsumoto, Martha Nakamura
- Venue: Ono Auditorium, Waseda University
- Participation is free
- Open to the public
