This fascinating selection of Kyoto-specific literature takes readers through twelve centuries of cultural heritage, from ancient Heian beginnings to contemporary depictions. The city’s aesthetic leaning is evident throughout in a mix of well-known and less familiar works by a wide-ranging cast that includes emperors and court ladies, Zen masters and warrior scholars, wandering monks and poet “immortals.” We see the city through their eyes in poetic pieces that reflect timeless themes of beauty, nature, love and war. An assortment of tanka, haiku, modern verse and prose passages make up the literary feast, and as we enter recent times there are English-language poems too.

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For a review in the Japan Times, click here… “My only serious criticism of this book is that, being of such exquisite quality, it is so short.”

For a review in Japan All Over, click here. “The layout of the book reflects its graceful subject. There is plenty of space on the page, and careful balance between the short bursts of text, deft footnotes, and excellent black-and-white illustrations and photography. The text is laid out bilingually, allowing instant access to both English and Japanese readers, and often also provides Romanised transliteration…”

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For amazon.japan, click here.

For a youtube 5 minute introduction to the book, click here.