was a Japanese poet. Well known as both a tanka and or poet, he began as a member of the Myōjō group of naturalist poets but later joined the "socialistic" group of Japanese poets and renounced naturalism. He died of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

Major works

His major works were two volumes of tanka poems plus his diaries: * Akogare (あこがれ) 1905 * (一握の砂) (A Handful of Sand) 1910 * (悲しき玩具) (Sad Toys) published posthumously in 1912

Diaries

Ishikawa wrote some of his diaries in a

Latin script The Latin script, also known as the Roman script, is a writing system based on the letters of the classical Latin alphabet, derived from a form of the Greek alphabet which was in use in the ancient Greek city of Cumae in Magna Graecia. The Gree ...

transliteration of Japanese so that his wife could not read them.

Timeline

* 1886 - Born at Joko Temple, Hinoto-mura (presently named Hinoto, Tamayama-mura), Minami-Iwate-gun,

Iwate Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. It is the second-largest Japanese prefecture (behind Hokkaido) at , with a population of 1,165,886 (as of July 1, 2023). Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Pre ...

, to Ittei, the father, who was the priest of the temple, and Katsu, his mother. * 1887 - Moved to Shibutami-mura (presently named Shibutami, Tamayama-mura) * 1891 - Attended Shibutami Elementary School (4 years) * 1895 - Attended Morioka Upper Elementary School (2 years) * 1898 - Attended Morioka Middle School * 1899 - Published a literary booklet "Choji-kai", printed by hand using a method called

hectograph The hectograph, gelatin duplicator or jellygraph is a printing process that involves transfer of an original, prepared with special inks, to a pan of gelatin or a gelatin pad pulled tight on a metal frame. While the original use of the technol ...

* 1900 - Formed a self-study group, "Union Club", to learn English. First and second issues of "Choji Magazine" were published. Fell in love with Setsuko Horiai, a student at Morioka Girls’ Middle School. * 1901 - Published the third issue of "Mikazuki" (Crescent Moon), a magazine for circulating, and the first issue of "Nigitama". His tankas appeared on Iwate Nippo (newspaper) under the

pen name A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...

of "Suiko", the first public appearance of his works. * 1902 - His tankas appeared in "Myōjō", a literary magazine, under the pen name of "Hakuhin". Dropped out of Morioka Middle School because of his aspiration for literature. Went to Tokyo and made the acquaintances of Tekkan and

Akiko Yosano , known by her pen name Yosano Akiko (Shinjitai: , Kyūjitai: , ), was a Japanese author, poet, feminist, pacifist, and social reformer, active in the late Meiji era as well as the Taishō and early Shōwa eras of Japan. She is one of the most ...

. * 1903 - Went home to Shibutami. Serial articles "Ideas of Wagner" appeared in Iwate Nippo. Poem "Shucho" (Sorrowful Melodies) appeared in "Myōjō". The pen name of "Takuboku" was used for the first time. In November, he joined the circle of poets "Shinshisha". * 1904 - Serial articles "Senun Yoroku" (Personal Memorandum of War Time) appeared in Iwate Nippo. This was right after the outbreak of the

Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War (8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905) was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and the Korean Empire. The major land battles of the war were fought on the ...

. * 1905 - The first collection of poems "Akogare" (Admiration) was published by Odajima Shobo. Married Setsuko Horiai. Published the literary magazine "Sho-Tenchi" (Small World). * 1906 - Became a substitute teacher at Shibutami Upper Elementary School. Wrote the novel "Kumo wa Tensai dearu" (The Clouds are Geniuses), which was never published during his lifetime. His novel "Soretsu" (Funeral Procession) appeared in the literary magazine "Myōjō" (December issue of 1906). * 1907 - Became a substitute teacher at Hakodate Yayoi Elementary School, and a freelance reporter at Hakodate Nichinichi Shinbun (newspaper). There at the Hakodate Yayoi Elementary School, he met Chieko Tachibana, and he was instantly awestruck by her beauty. Although Takuboku only encountered Chieko in person twice, she left a lasting impression on him, and 22 of the tanka written in "Wasuregataki-Hitobito" in "Ichiaku-no-Suna" were written about Chieko Tachibana. Later despite efforts to visit Chieko in her home in Sapporo, to pursue courtship, he had learned from her father that she had recently married. Because of the great fire in Hakodate, he lost both jobs and left Hakodate. Employed at places like Hokumon Shinpo or Otaru Nippo (publishers of newspapers) * 1908 - Employed at Kushiro Shinbun (newspaper), wrote "Benifude-dayori". Moved to Hongo,

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

in spring. * 1909 - Employed at

Asahi Shimbun is a Japanese daily newspaper founded in 1879. It is one of the oldest newspapers in Japan and Asia, and is considered a newspaper of record for Japan. The ''Asahi Shimbun'' is one of the five largest newspapers in Japan along with the ''Yom ...

as a proof reader. Issued literary magazine "

Subaru is the automaker, automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate (company), conglomerate Subaru Corporation (formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries), the Automotive industry#By manufacturer, twenty-first largest aut ...

" as a publisher. * 1910 - First collection of tankas "Ichiaku-no-Suna" (A Handful of Sand) was published by Shinonome-do Shoten. * 1911 - Moved to Koishikawa because of health reasons. * 1912 - In March, his mother Katsu died. He himself died of tuberculosis on April 13, being looked after by his friend

Bokusui Wakayama was the pen-name of , a Japanese author noted for his poetry in pre-World War II Japan. Life Wakayama was born in Togo, Miyazaki, (now part of the city of Hyūga, Miyazaki, Hyūga) as the eldest son of a doctor. He became interested in poetry f ...

and his wife Setsuko, at the age of 26. After his death, his second collection of tankas "Kanashiki Gangu" (Sad Toys) was published by Shinonome-do Shoten. * 1926 - In August, his grave was erected by both Miyazaki Ikuu, his brother-in-law, who was also a poet, and Okada Kenzo, the chief of Hakodate Library. * 1988 - The main-belt asteroid 4672 Takuboku (1988 HB) is named in his honor.

In popular culture

A fictionalised Ishikawa appears in the anime '' Woodpecker Detective's Office.'' Ishikawa is summoned as a Pseudo-Servant in the body of Makidera Kaede in the '' Fate/Grand Order'' X Himuro's World crossover episode. Ishikawa also appears in '' Golden Kamuy'', as an ally of Hijikata Toshizō.

References

*Ishikawa Takuboku, ''On Knowing Oneself Too Well'', translated by Tamae K. Prindle, Syllabic Press, © 2010. *Ishikawa Takuboku, ''Romaji Diary and Sad Toys'', translated by Sanford Goldstein and Seishi Shinoda. Rutland, Charles E. Tuttle Co. 1985. *Ishikawa Takuboku, ''Takuboku: Poems to Eat'', translated by Carl Sesar, Tokyo. Kodansha International, 1966. * Ueda, Makoto, ''Modern Japanese Poets and the Nature of Literature'', Stanford University Press © 1983 shikawa Takuboku is one of the eight poets profiled in the book, with forty two pages devoted to him. There are nine "free-style" poems and thirty one tanka included in the commentary.

External links