Tangled Hair: Selected Tanka from Midaregami (Japanese Edition) [Paperback]

Akiko Yosano (Author), Sanford Goldstein (Translator), Seishi Shinoda (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2002

Akiko Yosano's Tangled Hair, published in 1901, had a sensational impact on Japanese literature, and we are pleased to make this highly praised translation (originally published 30 years ago) available once again in a revised Cheng & Tsui edition. Akiko reshaped the tanka, the most popular form of Japanese poetry for 1,200 years, into a modern poetic form. In this new work, her tanka appear in their original Japanese, in roman transliterations, and English translations along with a new preface and notes. Suitable for literature programs and translation courses.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the most fascinating women Japanese literature has produced." -- Marleigh Ryan, Books Abroad

From the Publisher

Akiko Yosano reshaped the tanka, the most popular form of Japanese poetry for 1,200 years, into a modern poetic form, and her tanka are one-of-a-kind artworks of passion, of love, of emancipation of women, of the glorification of the body. Gracefully accurate and sensitive English translations, with generous explanatory notes, allow today's reader to experience and appreciate the power of Akiko Yosano's work. The poems are also included in their original Japanese and in Romaji renderings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Cheng & Tsui; Bilingual edition (December 1, 2002)
• Language: Japanese
• ISBN-10: 0887273734
• ISBN-13: 978-0887273735
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tanka, August 14, 2009

By 

Lenny (California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Tangled Hair: Selected Tanka from Midaregami (Japanese Edition) (Paperback)

My first introduction to Tanka and now I'm hooked. So much can be said in five lines. The book was beautiful. It also included lengthy foot notes on each tanka--just in case we missed cultural aspects of the poem --explanations about Buddhism etc. All the poems were written in Kanji too. A lengthy biography about the author was also included. The book was like having 3 books in one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best translation out there, April 10, 2009

By 

Adam Knight (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tangled Hair: Selected Tanka from Midaregami (Japanese Edition) (Paperback)

This is the best translation I've been able to find of Akiko Yosano. It was also featured in a scene from Jane Campion's movie "In the Cut". A beautiful, if slight, volume. The best part is that there are light-blue sections every 50 or so poems, with the original Japanese in the Tanka layout (which is very "foreign" to my Western eyes). A reader can therefore see the originals in a more accurate form than a traditional side-by-side translation layout. Worth the extra money!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "O, my love, this flower in my hand is dazzling red!", May 26, 2008

By 

William Timothy Lukeman - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tangled Hair: Selected Tanka from Midaregami (Japanese Edition) (Paperback)

"Dazzling" is just the word to describe this collection, with each poem an intense & passionate work of lapidary perfection. While utilizing traditional Japanese poetic symbols drawn from Nature, this is far from being just blandly pretty "Nature poetry" -- it explores the landscape of the heart. And it does so with gorgeous precision, constantly evoking subtleties of color & emotion. An extraordinary woman's soul is laid bare in these pages ... and she celebrates her body & the joys of the flesh with equal honesty.

First published in 1901, this is sensual & stirring work that's timeless -- certainly far more real & lasting than the superficial treatment of sexuality in too much of today's popular culture. For those who seek lush beauty & love's anguish in all of its Romantic splendor, this is where you'll find it. Most highly recommended!