TAWARA MACHI

(1962–)

Tawara Machi is a poet and translator from Osaka who graduated from Waseda University in Japanese literature. She is credited with revitalizing tanka and is an accomplished translator of classical texts into modern Japanese, including Man’yoshu (Collection of 10,000 Leaves, ca. 760) and Taketori monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, ca. 950). She worked as a high school teacher in Kanagawa Prefecture from her college graduation until 1989. She has released major poetry collections, including her Sarada kinenbi (1987; tr. Salad Anniversary, 1988), a compilation of tanka that sold over two million copies. Her popularity is due, in part, to her ability to adapt principles of classical literature in a way that appeals to modern youth. Tawara has also released a collection of tanka sent to her by fans in response to Sarada kinenbi.