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"I hope that the tanka poem and writings I write will become vitamins for someone's life."

School of Humanities and Social Sciences, March 2025 Graduate: Eri Sugiura
Pen name: Yumiyoshi Eri

At Waseda Arena Toyama Campus. A tanka poem on the subject of "Waseda Weekly" in hand.

Yumiyoshi, who graduated from School of Humanities and Social Sciences' Japanese Language and Literature course in March 2025, has been actively engaged in creative activities since she first encountered tanka poem in her third year of university. At the 25th NHK National Tanka poem Competition held in March 2024, Yumiyoshi won the special first place award for a free title, which is given to the most outstanding work by each judge, and was also awarded Waseda Student Culture Award in March 2025. We asked Yumiyoshi about what inspired her to start writing tanka poem, her memories of student life, and her future goals.

--What made you start writing tanka poem?

I loved reading from an early age, and in my second year of university I became a fan of the works of novelist Kawakami Mieko, and read her works tirelessly. Then I discovered the poet Homura Hiroshi through his work Tamashii no Futarigoto (Chikuma Shobo), which led me to pick up his collection of tanka poems Syndicate (Kodansha). When I read Homura's tanka poems, I was surprised by the freedom of the words, but at the same time, I felt the great energy that came from them, and I suddenly thought, "I want to try composing tanka poem myself."

For about a year from when I was in my third year of university, I wrote tanka poem by myself and submitted them to TV programs such as NHK Tanka poem, but I began to feel like I wanted to talk to someone about tanka poem, so at the end of 2023 I joined the Tanka poem Club (an official student club, commonly known as Wasetan).

Left: From the left, Mieko Kawakami and Hiroshi Homura's book "Tamashii no Futarigoto" (Chikuma Shobo), which inspired them to start writing tanka poem, and "Syndicate" (Kodansha)
Right: Yumiyoshi during an interview in the Tanka poem Club room at Toyama Campus Waseda University Student Center

--Please tell us about the most memorable tanka poem you have written so far.

"The last letter of your name bleeds blue ink onto the letter paper."

It was my first time to be selected for the NHK Tanka Poem contest and was introduced on the show, and it motivated me to continue to work hard at tanka poem, so I treasure it very much. The theme of "blue" reminded me of dark blue ink, and I wrote it while imagining a scene in which someone is writing a letter to someone and is so filled with emotion that the ink bleeds.

--How did you feel when you won the special first place award at the 25th NHK National Tanka poem Competition?

When I found out I had won the award, I was so surprised and happy that I felt like I was in a dream. I usually interact with tanka poets of my generation through tanka poem gatherings and social media, but when I went to see the competition a year ago, there were a lot of older people there. I thought that this was a place where people who have spent a lot of time working on tanka poem were recognized, so I was really surprised that it happened to me.

For the special selection, well-known poets representing the contemporary tanka poem world each choose one tanka poem that they think is best, and I was also happy that the person who chose my tanka, Kojima Yukari, had studied Japanese literature at School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Waseda University, just like me.

Award certificate given at the 25th NHK National Tanka poem Competition

--Please tell us how you came up with your winning piece and the comments you received from the judges.

"I only know plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, roses, and tulips, but my own “that flower” blooms"

Unlike the topic-based tanka poem where a theme is given, in the free-theme tanka poem you decide on your own theme, but I wanted to write a spring-like poem that people would be happy to read in late March, when the competition is held.

First, I was inspired to list specific flower names in the first and second lines. After that, when I was thinking about flowers, I remembered a flower I liked as a child. I didn't know the name of a purple flower that bloomed in the garden of the house I lived in at the time, but I looked forward to it every spring.

The judge for this contest, Homura Hiroshi, praised the inclusion of "plum blossom, cherry blossom, rose, tulip" in the verse, which only has 31 characters, and Tawara Machi praised the use of the word "ano-hana (that flower)" in the closing verse. Words like "ano(あの)" are often not used in tanka poem because it is difficult to share the scene or feelings with the reader, but the effective use of "ano（あの）" in this poem was a point of praise.

This tanka poem was based on the theme of Waseda Weekly. It was written with the hope that the students featured in Waseda Weekly, and all Waseda students, will blossom toward their dreams.

--What did you learn in the Japanese Language and Literature course School of Humanities and Social Sciences?

I learned a wide range of Japanese literature and Japanese linguistics from ancient times to the present. I was originally interested in Japanese linguistics, so it was difficult to take compulsory courses on literature from all Bachelor's Thesis, but I was able to realize that language is connected across time, and I feel that it was good to have studied Japanese linguistics because I have a background in literature from all eras. Takuro Moriyama With the guidance of my teacher (Professor Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences), I studied the singing style of Hiroshi Homura.

--What are your future plans and what dreams do you want to achieve through tanka poem?

I will be working for a private company from spring, so I plan to continue my tanka poem activities while working. Things that are not directly related to me often become the seeds of tanka poem, so I would like to be able to compose tanka poem from things that I happen to encounter and feelings that arise during my life as a working adult. From now on, I would like to continue to associate with tanka poem with the feeling that tanka poem is beside me and I am beside tanka poem, running alongside them.

My dream is to commercially publish my collection of poems and essays. Looking back on my university life, tanka poem was like a "vitamin" to me. It may have a lower priority than the three major nutrients and water, but having it definitely enriches the soul, and I think that's the appeal of tanka poem. I want the tanka poem and writings I write to be someone's vitamins, and by publishing a book, I want to reach more people with the words I weave.

--Finally, please give a message to Waseda students.

I think the good thing about Waseda is that there are many people who wholeheartedly support those who are working hard. For me, the people who supported me as I worked hard on tanka poem were the friends I met through student club activities. In addition to the Tanka poem Club I belonged to and the Waseda University Calligraphy Performance student club Sazanami (an officially recognized student club), I was saved many times by the time I spent with friends from the Otoko Matsuri at Waseda Festival. When I enrolled, I still had nothing to be proud of, but I am really glad that I discovered tanka poem and my precious friends.

Photo on the left: June 2021, at Lazona Kawasaki Plaza. A scene from an event performed by the Waseda University calligraphy performance student club Sazanami. Yumikichi is in the center.
Right: With fellow members of Otoko Matsuri 2021 at the New Welcome Stage in April 2021. Yumikichi is second from the right in the front row.

There are a lot of amazing people at Waseda, and I think there are times when you feel like you can't compete with them and feel overwhelmed. But the environment at Waseda, where you can support others and be supported in return, is the perfect place for people who want to work hard at something. I hope you'll take on the challenges you want to do at Waseda and enjoy your university life.

No.895

Interview, text and photography: Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC student staff)
Shiori Kato, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences in March 2025

【Profile】

A photo taken while watching a Tokyo Great Bears game. In front of a panel featuring Ito Riku (Class of 2024, School of Sport Sciences)

Originally from Saitama Prefecture. Graduated from Urawa Akenohoshi Girls' High School. Her hobby is watching volleyball, and her favorite team is the SV League's Tokyo Great Bears. "I'm always inspired by watching Waseda University graduates do well," she says. She loves reading, and her favorite authors are Kawakami Mieko, Homura Hiroshi, and Murakami Haruki. Her pen name, Yumiyoshi Eri, comes from a character named "Yumiyoshi-san" in Murakami Haruki's novel Dance Dance Dance (Kodansha).