Japanese Literary Awards

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Kiyohiro Tamai

たまい きよひろ

Tamai Kiyohiro

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1940-07-21 （Saijo, Ehime Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan

Career

Occupations
Tanka poet, Former high school teacher, Poetry selection committee member
Active Years
1965-
Affiliations
Mahiruno (poetry magazine), Oto (poetry magazine) — selector and editorial committee, Shikoku Shimbun / Ehime Shimbun / Asahi Shimbun (Shikoku edition) — poetry panelist

Education

Kokugakuin University
Faculty of Letters / Department of Japanese Literature
Country: Japan

Awards

Mahiruno Prize
1966
Work: Seinenki
Organization: Mahiruno magazine
Result: 受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Newcomer Award (Art Encouragement Prize, 37th)
1987
Work: Fuso (Kite)
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Japan Tanka Poets Club Prize (26th)
1999
Work: Seiren
Organization: Japan Tanka Poets Club
Result: 受賞
Yamamoto Kenkichi Literature Prize (2nd)
2002
Work: Roppaku
Organization: Yamamoto Kenkichi Literature Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Tanka Shiki Grand Prize (2nd)
2002
Work: Roppaku
Organization: Tanka Shiki editorial board
Result: 受賞
Kagawa Prefecture Cultural Merit Award
2006
Organization: Kagawa Prefecture
Result: 受賞
Poetry and Literature Museum Prize (29th)
2014
Work: Yashima
Organization: Poetry and Literature Museum
Result: 受賞
Choko Prize (48th)
2014
Work: Yashima
Organization: Choko Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
MEXT Commendation for Regional Cultural Merit
2014
Organization: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Result: 受賞
Shikoku Shimbun Cultural Prize
2016
Organization: Shikoku Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Saito Mokichi Tanka Literature Award (35th)
2024
Work: Sansui
Organization: Saito Mokichi Tanka Literature Award Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Kyuro

1976 Tanka collection

Early collection of tanka poems reflecting local landscapes and personal lyricism.

hometownnaturelyricism

Fuso

1986 Tanka collection

Representative mid-career work weaving daily life and nature from a regional poetic perspective.

naturelocalitytime

Seiren

1998 Tanka collection

A collection noted for its serene clarity and a refined perception of nature.

claritywaterquietude

Roppaku

2001 Tanka collection

A mature-period collection grounded in regional landscapes; one of his award-winning works.

local landscapematuritymemory

Yashima

2013 Tanka collection

Poems reflecting Shikoku's landscapes and history; recipient of the Poetry and Literature Museum Prize and Choko Prize.

historyShikokulandscape

Keisen

2018 Tanka collection

Recent collection sensitively portraying relationships between nature and people.

naturehuman relationsintrospection

Sansui

2023 Tanka collection

A recent major work expressing deep attachment to nature and landscape; awarded the Saito Mokichi Tanka Literature Award.

mountains and waterslocalitybelonging

Bibliography

  • Kyuro (Tanka collection) 1976
  • Fuso (Tanka collection) 1986
  • Appreciation: Contemporary Tanka 8 (Ueda Masashi) 1993
  • Kikujin (Tanka collection) 1993
  • Collected Tanka: Kiyohiro Tamai 1995
  • Seiren (Tanka collection) 1998
  • Roppaku (Tanka collection) 2001
  • Kokufu (Tanka collection) 2004
  • Clockwise Pilgrimage: A Tanka Poet's Shikoku Pilgrimage 2007
  • Tenrai (Tanka collection) 2007
  • Yashima (Tanka collection) 2013
  • Keisen (Tanka collection) 2018
  • Sansui (Tanka collection) 2023

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyricalconcise and clear expressionregional-focused poetry
Recurring Motifs
Shikokupilgrimagesea, mountains, waterlocal landscape

Legacy

A leading regional tanka poet based in Shikoku, known for sustained contributions to local culture and multiple major literary awards.

Trivia

  • Born in Saijo, Ehime; resides in Takamatsu, Kagawa.
  • Closely associated with the poetry magazines Mahiruno and Oto.
  • Served as a poetry panelist for Shikoku Shimbun, Ehime Shimbun, and Asahi Shimbun (Shikoku edition).