Forthcoming, 2026
of Women
20 Japanese Female Poets / 20 Waka Poems
Tupelo Press, 2026
Translation Book
Translation Book
Introduction to "of Women" Waka Translation Project
Toad Press Translation Garden Party, Pasadena, 2025
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The first time I gained interest in reading waka poems was in high school in Japan. If I had not gone to high school, I might not be interested in waka in general.
I was a near high school dropout because I lost all interest in a purpose for living as a woman in Japan. I developed serious depression during the high school years. This cause started one week before the national high school entrance exams. I went to a public junior high school, so I needed to take the tests, which was the system for Japanese education. I studied hard and my grades were pretty acceptable; however, one of my junior high school teachers said, “You are not even the smartest, nor a boy.” I realized that this would be my future in Japan, even though I studied and performed well, some people would categorize me as an uneducated woman. I gave up all the exams, but thankfully, Ohkagakuen High School accepted me. In high school, I took all advanced-level courses, especially Japanese literature classes. One of my Japanese literature teachers even witnessed the last moment of Yukio Mishima in Tokyo! The teachers selected beautiful textbooks full of colorful pictures and art from Japanese classic literature. I simply admired those books and I still keep them. I listened to their interesting stories while resting my face in my hands with a slouched posture. When I recalled my short high school days, my teachers had never said negative comments about me. "Just visit the school, you will learn something new." |
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Though I often missed those Japanese classes because it was held early on Thursday mornings. I talked about it in my chapbook collection, "09/09" by Toad Press. I simply could not wake up with my depression. I am truly thankful that my high school let me graduate. For a long time, I was described as the first daughter of Mr. Fujimoto with a heavy allergy and above-average intelligence. Some people told me, “You don’t have to study anything because you will be comfortable with your family,” or “Your allergy reaction is bad, so you should stay at home.” It took me forever to get out of this mental block. At high school, I was really surprised when I learned that both Sei Shōnagon and Murasaki Shikibu were nicknames and their real names were not recorded. At the same time, I somewhat accepted this unfair fact because people called me “the first daughter of Mr. Fujimoto” even in this current era. “With a heavy allergy” might be my identity if I lost my name, Naoko Fujimoto, over time. |
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High School Purikura
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As a Japanese woman who learned Western creative writing and poetic skills in English, I feel that it is my responsibility to highlight those Japanese female poets who lost their real names, but whose words survived through the civil and world wars, among other historical conflicts. I introduced twenty female writers in this collection. (I am also currently translating Akazome Emon’s poems with her biographical stories!) I started translating during the pandemic. I did not have any motivation to translate anything from Japanese to English for a long time; however, I had chances to read translation submissions for magazine publications during the pandemic, so I wanted to learn translators’ thinking and creative processes. At first, I was translating Japanese male poets as well, but I decided to focus on female poets after I read a poem by the Mother of envoys for the Japanese missions to the Tang dynasty (China). I was moved by the belonging particle, “of (no)” in Japanese. Therefore, I titled my book “of Women”. “Of” is in lowercase because this is a particle meaning ‘belonging’ in Japanese grammar. Now, more than twenty years after high school graduation, I am somewhat thankful to the teacher who said, “You are not even the smartest, nor a boy”. Because of the incident, my mind became stronger and I had chances to learn waka poems in my high school. If I had not graduated from it, I could not have been an exchange student at Indiana University. Becoming an exchange student was crucial in developing my identity. Every moment had a meaning to build up my own life, I think, when I created this book. |
About "of Women"
I’ve selected twenty female poets from the 7th century to the 12th century when Japanese women’s literature flourished. Famous writers from the era include Sei Shōnagon (The Pillow Book) and Murasaki Shikibu (The Tale of Genji), and I’ve introduced some lesser-known female poets to this collection.
In this collection, I translate Japanese waka-poems from the 7th century to the 12th century. I’ve selected twenty female poets from this period when Japanese women’s literature flourished. Famous writers from the era include Sei Shōnagon (The Pillow Book) and Murasaki Shikibu (The Tale of Genji). I’ve introduced some lesser-known female poets to this collection as well. Many Japanese female writers’ names were not documented accurately; even though they actively supported politics and their partners back then. They were commonly referred to as “Someone’s Mother” or “Someone’s Daughter.” The Japanese belonging particle, of (の), is common to describe the female’s name.
Waka compacts much information in a short form – words with double meanings, unfamiliar phrases, habits foreign to non-Japanese speakers, and hidden historical backgrounds – so it would be hard to understand these authors’ full intent by simply reading direct translations. Therefore, my project has several approaches to capture the original sensory images.
In this collection, I translate Japanese waka-poems from the 7th century to the 12th century. I’ve selected twenty female poets from this period when Japanese women’s literature flourished. Famous writers from the era include Sei Shōnagon (The Pillow Book) and Murasaki Shikibu (The Tale of Genji). I’ve introduced some lesser-known female poets to this collection as well. Many Japanese female writers’ names were not documented accurately; even though they actively supported politics and their partners back then. They were commonly referred to as “Someone’s Mother” or “Someone’s Daughter.” The Japanese belonging particle, of (の), is common to describe the female’s name.
Waka compacts much information in a short form – words with double meanings, unfamiliar phrases, habits foreign to non-Japanese speakers, and hidden historical backgrounds – so it would be hard to understand these authors’ full intent by simply reading direct translations. Therefore, my project has several approaches to capture the original sensory images.
Free Study Guide
"of Women" Study Guide is download ready for your class, book club, and curiosity.
If you would like to help your students get textbooks at affordable prices, Tupelo Press and the University of Chicago can help. Send an email to textadoption AT lists DOT uchicago DOT edu to learn about the discounts of 30-40% they can offer when students or instructors buy e-books direct from the site. This study guide is also available at Tupelo Press' website for a print friendly format in 2026.
If you would like to help your students get textbooks at affordable prices, Tupelo Press and the University of Chicago can help. Send an email to textadoption AT lists DOT uchicago DOT edu to learn about the discounts of 30-40% they can offer when students or instructors buy e-books direct from the site. This study guide is also available at Tupelo Press' website for a print friendly format in 2026.
