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The Haiku Apprentice: Memoirs of Writing Poetry in Japan
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The problem came to a head one day as I was driving through Tokyo. While waiting for the light to change, I saw the following public service announcement on the side of a bus: Omoiyari hitonikurumani konomachini (Sympathy / toward people, toward cars / toward this town). Seventeen syllables. Five-seven-five format. It must be a haiku, I thought. But when I reached the offi
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An interesting book on haiku framed with bits of memoir. I always assumed there was more to haiku than just counting syllables, but since my exposure was limited to 3rd grade creative writing, I haven't had a whole lot to base this assumption on. The book does a good job of talking about form, structure, history and intent but what is most fascinating about it is her picture of haiku in contemporary life. The author stumbled into a haiku writing group while living in Japan, and the book is as mu
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The January Fountain Bookstore bookgroup book.
Non-fiction. Gentle poetic account of an American diplomat learning to write haiku while living in Japan. Nice counterpoint to my other explorations of Japanese culture and media (samurai films, manga, etc).
Nice moments so far of the Japanese poetic sensibility, and learning the hiaku art of being completely "in the moment" in order to absorb and capture an impression or experience.
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Non-fiction. Gentle poetic account of an American diplomat learning to write haiku while living in Japan. Nice counterpoint to my other explorations of Japanese culture and media (samurai films, manga, etc).
Nice moments so far of the Japanese poetic sensibility, and learning the hiaku art of being completely "in the moment" in order to absorb and capture an impression or experience.
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Ha! Abigail Friedman! You have me walking around, dreaming up Haiku (probably bad ones) in my head and, what's worse I am wasting my work time typing a few up too! I even submitted some to a publication - only to feel the pain and humiliation of rejection. I told you they are bad!
I loved reading about your deep dive into Japanese culture. So many Westerners would not bother with calligraphy and Haiku etc. You are blessed to have had this opportunity and to be congratulated on taking it up too!
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I loved reading about your deep dive into Japanese culture. So many Westerners would not bother with calligraphy and Haiku etc. You are blessed to have had this opportunity and to be congratulated on taking it up too!
R ...more
If you're not Japanese or you don't understand Japanese language, then haiku could potentially come as a proxy to inconsequential and inscrutable short poems with meanings that could hardly be deciphered. One could not possibly be able to appreciate the poetic brilliance , exquisiteness and intricacies of haiku without first understanding the language. Japanese language, invariably is the prerequisite of haiku.
Haiku is the shortened/ revolutionised version of renga, a longer poetic form that co ...more
Haiku is the shortened/ revolutionised version of renga, a longer poetic form that co ...more
I am on my own journey to learn to write haiku. I encountered this book in my search for texts on haiku. The book was entertaining and covered a number of topics that are helpful to me in my own journey. It was an enjoyable book to read and I read the book during two flights. I recommend it, especially if you are on your own haiku journey.
An American diplomat explores a culture and way of being by joining a haiku writing group that meets at the foot of Mt Fuji. As a lover of haiku, I found this memoir interesting. It is well written and, like haiku, flows nicely while being aptly evocative and descriptive.
I wasn't sold on the author's breezy, personal writing style at first but her journey really pulled me in! I've read this and her translation of Momoko Kuroda's work, and she's won me over.
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4.5 stars.
Brilliant book. Great read with some interesting history on Japan. Only thing that may have been better is how the writer developed more at haiku. Giving examples etc progress.
I really liked this easy memoir of an American diplomat living and working for a couple years in Japan. At the beginning, she has no interest in writing haiku, but a chance meeting here leads to an introduction there, which grows into a teacher/student relationship later still. The haiku she shares are often written by Japanese masters, but also common people who have touched a chord that resonates long after you put the book down. Discussion of haiku mechanics, and writing in English, are woven
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A clear description of the meaning of haiku in its modern forms, both in Japan and English-speaking world. Friedman has had the advantage of learning to write haiku in Japanese and grappling with the aspects of language differences that affect the form in English. However, as she learns in the context of her life, a diplomat living with her family in Tokyo, the key is to observe the immediate world and our feelings in the moment, to describe things as they are. And as her teacher Kuroda Momoko s
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An excellent autobiography about living and working in Japan and discovering more about haiku. The only complaint I'd have about it is that it's a wee bit too short and could use more depth about the characters, but as an addition to reading haiku and studying the process of writing haiku and poetry it's a good fit.
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This was a nice book. It gave me new insights into the philosophy behind haiku and I really enjoyed learning about the mechanics of the Japanese group she belonged to. And the members of the group. I enjoyed the smooth way she threaded her family life, her work as a diplomat and her new found interest in haiku together. But still, I would like to have known more about that life.
I enjoyed this insight into Japanese culture and approach to haiku by an American Foreign Service Officer living in Tokyo.
Wonderful introduction to a deeper understanding of Haiku. I may use it as a text when I teach someday
A very gentle read, and fascinating. Inspiring!
i stumbled upon this book in a little shop in nyc. read it. fell in love with the author and haiku all over again!
an incredible story of self-discovery using a traditional art form.
an incredible story of self-discovery using a traditional art form.
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Abigail Friedman is Senior Advisor to The Asia Foundation. In that capacity, she directs the Foundation's cooperation with Japan in Asia, brings her negotiating and conflict resolution expertise to programming on the root causes of conflict in Asia, and advises on conflict-affected and fragile regions, including Afghanistan.
Ms. Friedman brings to the Foundation over twenty years of experience as a ...more
Ms. Friedman brings to the Foundation over twenty years of experience as a ...more
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“I had never thought of haiku, or any kind of poetry for that matter, as a social activity.”
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