Born in 1907 Nakahara Chuya was one of the most gifted and colourful of Japan''s early modern poets. A bohemian romantic, his death at the early age of thirty, coupled with the delicacy of his imagery, have led to him being compared to the greatest of French symbolist poets.
Since the Second World War, Nakahara''s stature has risen, and his poetry is now ranked among the finest Japanese verse of the 20th century. Influenced by both Symbolism and Dada, he created lyrics renowned for their songlike eloquence, their personal imagery and their poignant charm.
This selection of poems from throughout Nakahara''s creative life includes collected and uncollected work and draws on recent scholarship to give a full account of this extraordinary figure.
Nakahara is a representative modern poet . . . His poetry has
immediate visual and musical appeal, with flashes of Dadaist
humour mixed with lines of haunting melancholy. The substantial
preface by the gifted translators is an excellent introduction to his
widely eccentric life, and to the fascinating story of modern
Japanese poets.'' - JAMES KIRKUP
Since [Nakahara''s] death he has gradually come to be recognized
as one of the major poets of modern Japan . . . the translators
have more than accomplished their purpose, to provide "tolerable
English verse." It is very good verse. It is eminently deserving of
publication, and one hopes that it will attract wide attention.''
- EDWARD SEIDENSTICKER
''Conveys well the Japanese poet''s offbeat mixture of pathos and
humour.'' - D J ENRIGHT
''No modern Japanese poet has better realized the auditory possibilities of the language.'' - KATO SHUICHI
