Poem by Kakinomoto Hitomaro, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki)

Katsushika Hokusai Japanese

Not on view

Kakinomoto Hitomaro (act. late seventh–early eighth century), the author of this poem, was known for his intense language and subject matter. Like Hokusai, he had a gift for observation and for finding the human inflection in landscape.

Ashibiki no
yamatori no o no
hidari o no
hitori ka mo nemu

Trailing,
the mountain pheasant's tail
long and longer this night too,
spent along will be.

Poem by Kakinomoto Hitomaro, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki), Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, Tokyo (Edo) 1760–1849 Tokyo (Edo)), Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan

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