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Kenji Fukami

ふかみ けんじ

Fukami Kenji

Pen Names: Kenji Fukami（Used as haiku pen name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1922-03-05 （Takatama Mine (now Kōriyama), Fukushima, Japan）
Died
2021-09-15 age 99
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Takatama Mine (now Kōriyama) → Tokyo

Career

Occupations
Haiku poet, Author, Taijiquan instructor, Company employee
Active Years
1941-2021
Affiliations
Haijin Kyokai (Haiku Association) – Honorary member, Japan Artiste Authors' Association (member)
Memberships
Haiku Association (honorary member), Japan Artiste Authors' Association (member)
Influenced By
Kyoshi Takahama, Shoichiro Fukagawa, Seison Yamaguchi

Education

Tokyo Imperial University (now University of Tokyo)
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Metallurgy / Metallurgy
Degree: 工学士
Country: Japan
After graduation worked at the University of Tokyo metallurgy laboratory, then joined Nippon Mining (Japan Energy).

Awards

31st Haijin Kyokai (Haiku Association) Award
1992
Work: Kachōrai (Flower, Bird, Coming)
Organization: Haiku Association
Result: 受賞
21st Shika Bungakukan Prize (Haiku category)
2006
Work: Nichigetsu (Sun and Moon)
Category: 俳句部門
Organization: Shika Bungakukan (Poetry and Literature Museum)
Result: 受賞
48th Jakko (Jakotsu) Prize
2014
Work: Sumire Koku (Deep Violet)
Organization: Jakotsu Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
13th Yamamoto Kenkichi Prize
2014
Work: Sumire Koku (Deep Violet)
Organization: Yamamoto Kenkichi Prize Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Kachōrai

1991 Haiku

A haiku collection emphasizing seasonality and natural description; exemplifies kachō-fūei and objective depiction.

SeasonalityNatureKachō-fūei (bird-and-flower poetic tradition)

Nichigetsu

2005 Haiku

A collection of haiku reflecting perspectives from later life; winner of the Shika Bungakukan haiku prize.

AgingNatureSeasonality

Sumire Koku

2013 Haiku

A collection notable for color imagery and fine natural observation; recipient of the Jakotsu and Yamamoto Kenkichi prizes.

Color imageryNatural observationSeasonality

Collected Haiku of Kenji Fukami

2016 Haiku

Collected edition compiling works across his career.

OverviewSeasonalityNature

Bibliography

  • Fushi Shōwa (Kondō Shoten, 1956)
  • Yuki no Hana (Tamamo-sha, 1977)
  • Seishin (Tokyo Bijutsu, 1982)
  • Kachōrai (Kadokawa, 1991)
  • Nichigetsu (Furansudō, 2005)
  • Mizukage (Furansudō, 2006)
  • Chō ni Au (Furansudō, 2009)
  • Sumire Koku (Furansudō, 2013)
  • Collected Haiku of Kenji Fukami (Furansudō, 2016)
  • Yūakane (Furansudō, 2018)
  • Momi no Ki (Furansudō, 2021)
  • Kyoshi no Tenchi (Kagyūsha, 1996)
  • Introduction to Kyoshi's 'Five Hundred Haiku' (Kagyūshinsha, 2003)
  • Singing the Four Seasons (NHK Publishing, 2003)
  • Oro ni Furete (Furansudō, 2007)
  • Selection Is Creation - Reading Kyoshi Takahama (NHK Publishing, 2011)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Kachō-fūei (bird-and-flower poetic tradition)Objective sketching (kyakkan shasei)Concise, composed haiku style
Recurring Motifs
Seasonal changeSmall scenes of natureColor imagery

Health

  • Aspiration pneumonia
    2021年
    Died of aspiration pneumonia in 2021 (cause of death)

Legacy

A haiku poet who studied under Kyoshi Takahama and upheld kachō-fūei and objective depiction. Praised for meticulous natural imagery and seasonality, he received multiple major haiku awards.

Academic Societies

  • Haiku Association
  • Japan Artiste Authors' Association

Quotes

  • Thin ice blown, the edges lie layered
    Source: Haiku collection (source unspecified)

Trivia

  • Studied under Kyoshi Takahama from age 19.
  • Worked for Nippon Mining (Japan Energy).
  • Served as an instructor in Yang Mingzhi (Yang Yuming) Taijiquan.