Today in our poetry news roundup we take a look at the death of Shuntaro Tanikawa and the poet who is being celebrated 175 years after his birth.
Giant of Japanese Poetry, Shuntaro Tanikawa Dies At the Age of 92
The pioneer of modern Japanese poetry, which was both poignant and conversational in the divergence from more traditional styles of poetry and Haiku, has died at the age of 92. Shuntaro Tanikawa died on 13th November at a hospital in Tokyo. The cause of his death has been given as old age.
Tanikawa was also the writer of the lyrics to the theme song of Astro Boy and responsible for translating the comic strip Peanuts into Japanese.
When his debut offering, Two Billion Light Years of Solitude came to the notice of the literary world in 1952, it stunned everyone. The book took a long look at the cosmic in daily life; it was vivid and sensual in its use of language.
written by the poet are a rhythmical experiment that juxtapose words that have similar sounds, making an incredibly singsong composition filled with onomatopoeia and alliteration.
He wasn’t just known for his poetry, and translated a number of works by others including Mother Goose, selected works from Maurice Sendak and also Leo Lionni. His own works have been translated into Chinese, English and a number of European languages.
Born in 1931 Tanikawa was the son of a philosopher. He began writing poetry as a teenager and mixed with famous poets of the era including Shuji Terayama and Makoto Ooka. He once admitted that his one regret in life was never actually finishing his formal education.
He is survived by his son who is a composer, his daughter and many grandchildren. Whilst his funeral was a private family affair, a farewell event is being planned in his honour.
Poet Who Inspired World Leaders is Celebrated
Gloucester historians are trying to raise awareness of the poet William Ernest Henley, one of the most influential residents of the city.
Henley’s work has not only inspired world leaders but also a Hollywood movie and even royalty. He is best known for writing the poem Invictus, but it is also widely believed that he might have been the inspiration behind Robert Louis Stevenson’s character of Long John Silver from Treasure Island.
Today, pupils from The Crypt School will be taking part in an event that will celebrate the life of the poet, 175 years after his birth.
There is no shortage of famous names associated with the city. John Stafford Smith the writer of the Star Spangled Banner hails from Gloucester as well.
Henley is, however, not as well known as he should be. His poem was read every day by Nelson Mandela when he was in prison, it gave its name to the Invictus Games and also inspired the 2009 film of the same name that stared Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. It has also been quoted by famous politicians over the years including Sir William Churchill.
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