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Taira Morimoto

もりもと たいら

Morimoto Taira

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1964-11-22 （Tokyo）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
tanka poet, publisher
Active Years
1978-
Influenced By
Haruyoshi Morimoto, Yaeko Maki, Masamichi Abe
Influenced
Kanda Hakuzan (6th generation)

Education

Kokugakuin University
Faculty of Letters
Period: 1984-
Country: Japan
Participated in 'Kokugakuin Tanka' while enrolled
Kokugakuin University (graduate school)
Doctoral program
Country: Japan
Left doctoral program after completing the term (advisor: Masamichi Abe)

Awards

Gendai Tanka Criticism Prize (19th)
2001
Work: Contemporary Tanka after 'War and Massacre'
Organization: Gendai Tanka Criticism Prize
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Never Forget the Sky

1989 tanka

First collection of tanka; gathers early poems focusing on everyday life and inner reflection.

everyday lifeintrospection

Crossing the Bridge

1994 tanka

Mid-career collection emphasizing urban sensibilities, memory, and traces of family.

urbanitymemoryfamily

Morals

1997 tanka

Noted for provocative and confrontational language; questions ethics and society.

ethicsprovocationsocial critique

Personal Life

1999 tanka

Collection of poems reflecting personal experiences and private life.

private lifeautobiographical elements

Selected Tanka of Taira Morimoto

2004 tanka

Selection compiling representative works to date.

overviewrepresentative works

Machida Calling

2006 tanka

Collection of tanka set against regional and urban scenes.

localityurban landscape

Calumny Law

2015 tanka

Recent collection noted for sharp language and critical stance.

languagecriticality

Bibliography

  • Never Forget the Sky
  • Crossing the Bridge: Tanka by Taira Morimoto
  • Morals
  • Personal Life
  • Selected Tanka of Taira Morimoto
  • Machida Calling
  • Calumny Law

Style & Themes

Literary Style
provocative expressionedgy tankacontemporary critical perspective
Recurring Motifs
grandfatherwar and violencecity and memorymorality

Legacy

Taira Morimoto is known for provocative, critically engaged tanka and for publishing tanka journals. He has established a distinctive position in contemporary tanka.

In Popular Culture

  • Appeared on Chukyo TV's program 'Kono Hito ni Awasete Yorokobasetai!' (Feb 5, 2019) reunited with Kanda Matsunojyo (then name)

Trivia

  • His grandfather was Man'yō scholar Haruyoshi Morimoto.
  • His mother is tanka poet Yaeko Maki; he comes from a family of poets and scholars.
  • Joined the tanka journal 'Daigo' in 1978 and studied under his mother.
  • Taught modern literature at Seigakuin High School and counted Kanda Hakuzan (6th) among his students.