Found: Five Unpublished Poems by Haiku Poet Masaoka Shiki

On the 150th anniversary of his birth, five previously unpublished poems from the once-lost, now-found notebook of celebrated haiku poet and essayist Masaoka Shiki (1867–1902) have been found among archives in the preservation association of Shiki-an, "a modest dwelling in Tokyo’s Taito Ward where the poet resided," as the Asahi Shimbun reports. More, from Yuki Ogawa:

Bound in traditional Japanese style, the notebook measures 24 centimeters by 16 cm.

The front cover bears kanji characters that read, “New Year’s Book, Jan. 1, the 34th year of the Meiji Era.”

Although he had been bed-ridden due to advanced spinal caries, the decay of bony tissue, Shiki's poems come across as cheerful, suggesting the poet must have been in a celebratory mood as the new year unfolded.

“The works epitomize the easily comprehensible haiku that he set out to create,” said Ichiro Fukumoto, professor emeritus of Japanese literature at Kanagawa University.

The five works are: "Neokurete Shinnen no Kane o Kikinikeri"; "Kurakiyori Gancho o Sawaku Kodomo kana"; "Uraura to Hatsuhi no Kage ya Karekodachi"; "Hatsuyume ya Kotatsu Futon no Atatamari"; and "Rusu no To ni Meishi Nagekomu Gyokei kana"

One poem describes children rising early while it is still dark and running around to celebrate New Year's Day, while another portrays Shiki listening to temple bells ringing in the New Year after missing his bedtime.

Read about the discovery in detail at the Asahi Shimbun.