The Santoka: Versions by Scott Watson (Paperback)

~ Santoka Taneda (Author), Scott Watson (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book is made of selections which previously appeared in the Tohoku Gakuin Review under the titles: Weeds We'd Wed: English versions of more than fifty haiku by Taneda Santoka, and A Life to Live: Santoka. Taneda Santoka, was born 1882 - died 1940. Scott Watson presents each haiku in Japanese (kana and kanji) followed by his English versions. Explanation is added where needed.

Product Details

• Paperback: 41 pages
• Publisher: Bookgirl Press (May 2005)
• ISBN-10: 4915948412
• ISBN-13: 978-4915948411
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,035,420 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry, August 11, 2005

By	e.james - See all my reviews

A poet translating poetry....sounds simple, seems natural, yet the end results are sometimes not so simple or natural. Mr Watson however, takes the original to heart, quite literally, and what comes out IS poetry. Leaving rules behind, even leaving himself behind, and finding the spirit of the original writer. I appreciate the contemplative hours it must have taken to arrive at that place prior to putting ink to paper. As a reader who cannot read Santoka in his language of origin, I feel that I am through these translations. This beautiful book of poetry and introductions is a gift to the soul, simple and uncluttered.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a deeper bow, May 4, 2006

By	Jizo43 (New England) - See all my reviews

In the past I've very much enjoyed Scott Watson's translations/versions of Santoka's work and do so here. There is no question about the result of Watson's labors. I do find though that parts of his introduction display an off putting attitude. If one were to skip over the intro, the book would be as pleasant as it was in its previous incarnations.