Takashi Matsumoto (haiku poet)

Infobox Writer
name = Takashi Matsumoto


caption = Matsumoto Takashi
birthdate = 5 January 1906
birthplace = Tokyo, Japan
deathdate =11 May, 1956
deathplace =
occupation = Writer
genre = "haiku" poetry, essays
movement =
notableworks =
influences = Takahashi Kyoshi
influenced = nihongo|Takashi Matsumoto|松本たかし|Matsumoto Takashi|extra=5 January 1906 – 11 May, 1956 was a Japanese "haiku" poet active in Showa period Japan.

Early life

Matsumoto was born in the Kanda district of Tokyo into a family of Noh theater players of the Hosho school. His stage debut was at the age of eight. From the earliest age, he was devoted to honing his skills as a Noh actor. He also had a strong interest in classical Chinese literature, calligraphy and the English language, and was also fond of popular theater and "rakugo" comic storytelling.

While recovering from an illness in 1921, he came across the "haiku" literary magazine "Hototogisu". Later, he joined "Shippo-kai", a "haiku" circle predominately for Noh actors and began to study "haiku" under the famed poet Takahama Kyoshi. At around the age of 20, Matsumoto abandoned the idea of becoming a Noh actor because of his ongoing health problems and turned to composing "haiku" professionally.

After spending the summer of 1925 recuperating from illness in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Matsumoto moved there the following year and made it his until 1945. He composed many verses about Kamakura during that period.

In 1929, he joined the "Hototogisu" group, where he was acknowledged to be an equal of the much acclaimed Kawabata Bosha.

Literary career

In 1935, Matsumoto published his first "haiku" anthology, "Matsumoto Takashi Kushu". This was followed by the "haiku" anthologies "Taka" ("Hawk"), "Yumi" ("Arrow"), "Nomori" ("Gamekeeper") and the essay collections of "Ego no Hana" ("Styrax blossom"), and "Kanawa" ("Iron Ring")

In 1946, he began his own literary magazine, "Fue" ("Flute"). He also wrote a biographical novel about the late 19th century Noh actor, Hosho Kuro.

Matsumoto died in 1956 at the age of 50.

ee also

*Japanese literature
*List of Japanese authors

External links

* [http://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/bunka/bunjinroku/matsumoto_e.htm Literary Figures of Kamakura ]