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Kyoko Kuriki

くりき きょうこ

Kuriki Kyoko

Pen Names: Kyoko Kuriki（Uses maternal surname as pen name）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1954-10-23 （Nagoya, Aichi, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Nagoya → Gifu → Kyoto

Career

Occupations
tanka poet
Active Years
1975-
Affiliations
Tou (tanka society), Modern Tanka Poets Association, Yomiuri Shimbun tanka panel (selector)
Memberships
Tou (tanka society), Modern Tanka Poets Association
Influenced By
Kuniyo Takayasu, Takashi Okai

Education

Kyoto University, Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science / Department of Biophysics
Period: 〜1977
Year of Graduation: 1977
Country: Japan

Awards

Gendai Kajin Shukai Prize
1984
Work: Mizu Wakusei (Water Planet)
Organization: Gendai Kajin Shukai
Result: winner
Kono Aiko Prize
1995
Work: Kira
Organization: Kono Aiko Prize Committee
Result: winner
Gifu City Arts and Culture Encouragement Award
1997
Organization: Gifu City
Result: winner
Tanka Kenkyu (Tanka Research) Prize
2002
Work: Hokugen (30 poems)
Organization: Tanka Kenkyusha
Result: winner
Yomiuri Literature Prize (Poetry and Haiku)
2004
Work: Natsu no Ushiro (Behind Summer)
Category: 詩歌俳句賞
Organization: Yomiuri Shimbun
Result: winner
Wakayama Bokusui Prize
2004
Work: Natsu no Ushiro (Behind Summer)
Organization: Wakayama Bokusui Prize Committee
Result: winner
Yamamoto Kenkichi Literature Prize
2007
Work: Kemuri Suisho
Organization: Yamamoto Kenkichi Prize Committee
Result: winner
Art Encouragement Prize, Minister of Education Award
2007
Work: Kemuri Suisho
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: recipient
Chokuu Prize
2007
Work: Kemuri Suisho
Organization: Chokuu Prize Committee
Result: winner
Saito Mokichi Tanka Literary Prize
2014
Work: Suisen no Shō (Chapter of Daffodils)
Organization: Saito Mokichi Prize Committee
Result: winner
Maekawa Samio Prize
2014
Work: Suisen no Shō (Chapter of Daffodils)
Organization: Maekawa Samio Prize Committee
Result: winner
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2014
Organization: Cabinet Office
Result: recipient
Mainichi Art Award
2018
Organization: Mainichi Shimbun
Result: winner
Ono City Poetry and Literature Prize
2019
Work: Ranpu no Sei (The Lamp's Spirit)
Organization: Ono City
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Mizu Wakusei (Water Planet)

1984 tanka

Her first tanka collection, containing fresh youthful poems and representative pieces that established her early voice.

youthmemorylandscape

Kira

1989 tanka

A tanka collection marking shifts in her style toward attentive depictions of everyday life.

daily lifefamilyobservation

Natsu no Ushiro (Behind Summer)

2003 tanka

A collection that contains more poems engaging with current events after the 9/11 attacks; includes prize-winning work.

current eventssocietymemory

Kemuri Suisho

2006 tanka

Work from her mature period, noted for its refined language and close observations of daily life.

maturityobservationlanguage

Suisen no Shō (Chapter of Daffodils)

2013 tanka

A collection where personal daily poems intersect with classical sensibilities; recipient of several literary prizes.

daily lifetraditionnature

Ranpu no Sei (The Lamp's Spirit)

2018 tanka

A recent collection characterized by introspective perspectives and polished expression.

introspectionmemoryhome

Bibliography

  • Mizu Wakusei (Water Planet)
  • Nakaniwa (Patio)
  • Kira
  • Manyo no Tsuki
  • Enjoying Tanka
  • Collected Songs of Kyoko Kuriki
  • Natsu no Ushiro (Behind Summer)
  • Selected Works of Kyoko Kuriki
  • Kemuri Suisho
  • Exploring Great Song Collections: A Book That Opens an Era
  • Shiramayumi
  • Let's Compose Tanka
  • Suisen no Shō (Chapter of Daffodils)
  • The Joy of Uta-awase: Crossing 1300 Years of Time and Space
  • Selected Contemporary Women's Songs
  • Ranpu no Sei (The Lamp's Spirit)
  • Atarashiki Kako (The New Past)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
fresh youthful tankaeveryday-life depictionconcise, refined language
Recurring Motifs
Ferris wheeldetails of daily lifeseasonal feelingmemory and timefamily

Legacy

An important figure in contemporary Japanese tanka, evolving from fresh youth poems to keen observations of daily life. Highly acclaimed with many literary prizes and the Medal with Purple Ribbon. Served as chair of the Modern Tanka Poets Association and contributed to the development of the tanka community.

Academic Societies

  • Modern Tanka Poets Association

Archives

  • National Diet Library (related holdings)
  • Holdings at respective publishers

Quotes

  • Ferris wheel, spin and spin — for you a day of memories, for me a lifetime.
    Source: Tanka collection 'Mizu Wakusei (Water Planet)' (1984)

Trivia

  • Born Kyoko Nakahara (maiden name Yamamoto).
  • Graduated from Kyoto University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biophysics.
  • Served as chair of the Modern Tanka Poets Association (first woman tanka poet to do so).
  • Notable collections include 'Mizu Wakusei', 'Natsu no Ushiro', 'Kemuri Suisho', and 'Suisen no Shō'.