One Hundred Leaves: A new annotated translation of the Hyakunin Isshu

by Frank Watson (Translator)

The Hyakunin Isshu is a poetry anthology beloved by generations of Japanese since it was compiled in the 13th century. Many Japanese know the poems by heart as a result of playing the popular card game version of the anthology, called karuta. Collecting one poem each from one hundred poets living from the 7th century to the 13th century, the book covers a wide array of themes and personal styles, from love poetry to nature poetry to the poetry of absence and longing.

Genres: Poetry

201 pages, Paperback

Published January 22, 2020

About the author

Frank Watson was born in Venice, California and now lives in New York. He enjoys literature, art, calligraphy, landscaping, history, jazz, international travel, kickboxing, and powerlifting. Publications include The Dollhouse Mirror, Seas to Mulberries, and One Hundred Leaves. He has also edited several volumes, including The Poetry Nook Anthology, The dVerse Anthology, Fragments, and the Poetry Nook Journal vols. 1-5. His work has appeared in various literary journals, anthologies, e-zines, and literary blogs, but most of all, he loves to share his work on social media. Watson's upcoming poetry collection is In the Dark, Soft Earth.

Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook: @FrankWatsonPoet
Web Site: www.frankwatsonpoetry.com

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a confession to make: I have had an unexplainable obsession with the Hyakunin Isshu since I read Chihayafuru. Little else compares to this anthology when it comes to weaving intricacy into the most obscure of images. Wet sleeves emblematic of love, coquettish waves disclosing the unreliability of a lover; somehow there is so much sweetness to the longing and absence these words make me feel. Beautiful illustrations in this edition and even more beautiful translation, if anything I wish the annotations were even heavier.

[Michael Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book, in the quiet of late winter afternoons, during a difficult time in my life. I don't know how I would respond now. But that winter, reading these poems gave me a sense of peace. So I'll prescribe this book for those seeking a few moments of quiet peace. My only complaint was: on the kindle version, the pictures lost too much definition when I enlarged them.

[birdbassador · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like the ones that are like all hiragana so each line has a bunch of different meanings and it's like you get a crossword to go with your poem

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only regret is that not all the poems have notes about the poet and the context in which it was written.