Japanese Literary Awards

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Naoko Hiraoka

ひらおか なおこ

Hiraoka Naoko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Resident of Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan

Career

Occupations
tanka poet, senryu poet
Active Years
2006-
Affiliations
Selection committee member, Gendai Tanka-sha Award (since 2023)

Awards

Kadan Prize
2011
Work: Moon and Calendar (sequence)
Organization: Kadan (magazine)
Result: runner-up
Kadan Prize
2012
Work: Light and Where Light Reaches (sequence)
Organization: Kadan (magazine)
Result: winner
Modern Tanka Poets Association Award
2021
Work: Short Hair, Long Hair, Both on Fire
Organization: Modern Tanka Poets Association
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Short Hair, Long Hair, Both on Fire

2021 Tanka (poetry)

First tanka collection capturing everyday details and bodily sensations through contemporary tanka.

everyday lifethe bodymemory

Ladies and

2022 Senryu (short humorous verse)

A senryu collection combining humor and observations of everyday life.

humoreveryday lifefemale perspective

Introduction to Tanka for Mornings You Can't Get Up For (co-authored)

2023 Introductory guide

Co-authored with Toshiki Agatsuma; an introductory guide combining practice and commentary on writing tanka.

creative introductiontanka techniques

Bibliography

  • Short Hair, Long Hair, Both on Fire
  • Ladies and
  • Introduction to Tanka for Mornings You Can't Get Up For (co-authored)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, snapshot-like depictions of everyday lifeuse of contemporary vocabulary and conversational tone
Recurring Motifs
hairfireworkscommercial spaces and a sense of loss

Legacy

Recognized as a representative poet of a younger generation; active in both tanka and senryu with a reputation for contemporary diction and observational depiction of daily life.

Quotes

  • I couldn't find the Mitsukoshi lion and it was sad—so sad.
    Source: Short Hair, Long Hair, Both on Fire (2021)
  • By the sea with you, waiting for fireworks, we talked about how to survive.
    Source: tanka (poem) (2021)

Trivia

  • Operates X (formerly Twitter) account @tricot7.
  • Issues occasional net prints as part of the unit 'Uma to Himawari' (Horse and Sunflower).
  • Resident of Kodaira, Tokyo.