Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Sumio Kubo

くぼ すみお

Kubo Sumio

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1949-12-14 （Osaka Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
haiku poet, high school teacher
Active Years
1969-
Memberships
Hanayo (haiku group)
Influenced By
Rokurinō Suzuki

Education

Ritsumeikan University
Faculty of Letters
Country: Japan
Became a high school teacher after graduation

Awards

Hanayo Prize (8th)
1969
Organization: Hanayo (haiku group/magazine)
Result: 受賞
Rokunin no Kai Prize (15th)
1986
Organization: Rokunin no Kai
Result: 受賞
Modern Haiku Association Prize (42nd)
1993
Organization: Modern Haiku Association
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Ruribara-kan

haiku

A haiku collection exploring the vitality hidden in words with an introspective tone. Includes representative poems such as "Magnolia — 'to wind-bury that white witch'".

vitalityinner lifenature

Suishōki

haiku

A collection containing poems that revolve around waterside imagery and themes of life and death.

waterdeathnature

Kumano-shu

haiku

A haiku collection themed on Kumano. Contains notable lines such as "At the water's edge — the abundance of martial instruments".

Kumanonaturemilitary imagery

Hiyoku Renri

haiku

A collection focusing on images of love and paired/mutual bonds.

lovecontrastrelationships

The Swan's Anxiety

haiku criticism

A collection of essays on haiku theory and expression.

haiku theoryexpression

Bibliography

  • Ruribara-kan
  • Suishōki
  • Seiju
  • Kumano-shu
  • Hiyoku Renri
  • Kōetsu
  • Collected Haiku of Sumio Kubo
  • Four Seasons Plus
  • Beautiful Death in the Center: The Instant or Eternity (co-authored with Rumiko)
  • The Swan's Anxiety

Style & Themes

Literary Style
introspective styleexplores the vitality hidden in words
Recurring Motifs
vitalityinner lifenaturedeath

Legacy

One of the leading haiku poets representing introspective inquiry in contemporary haiku. Long-serving editor and leading contributor to the magazine Hanayo, he has been recognized for his contributions to the haiku community through mentoring and literary journals. He also founded and served as publisher of the magazine Koubou.

Academic Societies

  • Modern Haiku Association

Archives

  • National Diet Library (author record)

Quotes

  • Magnolia — 'to wind-bury that white witch'
    Source: Ruribara-kan

Trivia

  • Graduated from the Faculty of Letters, Ritsumeikan University.
  • Worked as a high school teacher.
  • Participated in founding the literary doujinshi 'Juuen' in 1970.
  • Joined the haiku group/magazine Hanayo in 1971 and studied under Suzuki Rokurinō.
  • Founded the magazine Koubou in 2006 and served as its publisher.
  • Co-authored a work with his wife Rumiko.