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Poem

Jūkichi Yagi

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Original language

A Plain Koto

If you lay a plain koto
in this brightness
it will begin playing quietly,
unable to endure autumn’s beauty.

© Translation: 2008, William I. Elliott and Kazuo Kawamura

A koto is a Japanese musical instrument, similar to a zither, with 13 strings.

A PLAIN KOTO

From: Kanashiki Shinto (Poor Believers)
Publisher: Nogikusha, Tokyo

Jūkichi Yagi

Jūkichi Yagi

(Japan, 1898 - 1927)

Jūkichi Yagi was born in 1898 in the outskirts of Tokyo as the second son of a farmer's family. While in high school, Jūkichi started reading the Bible and soon became a devout Christian. Upon graduating the Tokyo High Normal School at the age of 23, he was assigned to another Normal School in Hyogo Prefecture as an English teacher. It was there that Jūkichi started writing poetry prolifically...

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Poems

Poems of Jūkichi Yagi

A Face

A Thought

A Jar

Spring

Clouds

[In early winter]

Lead and a Butterfly

Steeped in Utter Desolation

Tears

O Heart!

Close

A Plain Koto

If you lay a plain koto
in this brightness
it will begin playing quietly,
unable to endure autumn’s beauty.

© 2008, William I. Elliott and Kazuo Kawamura
From: Kanashiki Shinto (Poor Believers)

A Plain Koto

If you lay a plain koto
in this brightness
it will begin playing quietly,
unable to endure autumn’s beauty.

© 2008, William I. Elliott and Kazuo Kawamura

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