If you appreciate the stitched edge of Tajfuny Mini series, you will love this book. The album Haiku Illustrated. Classic Japanese Short Poems impresses from the first look, with the intensely red thread that it’s sewn together. Made by application of a Chinese method, briefly explained inside, in addition to the stitched edge, the book also has thick, double-folded pages. This large gem will make every bibliophile’s eyes light up at the sight of it.
Inside, you will find selected haiku of the masters of this genre. There are of course Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, Kobayashi Issa andMasaoka Shiki. The presence of the latter, the youngest in the company is especially pleasing – Shiki lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and was friends with Natsume Sōseki. And although he is counted among the “four haiku masters”, perhaps because he lived much later, he is often overlooked in anthologies.
Haiku Illustrated features the original texts (along with the reading) and translations into English. Each haiku is accompanied by an illustration – both full-page, multi-colored paintings and subtle details painted with ink. A very rich book that makes you want to flip through it.
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