Mayumi Itoh Bücher

This book is the eighth anthology of haikus by this author. This volume features flora and is dedicated to the Japanese female poet Kaneko Misuzu (1903-1930), who touched millions of hearts with her genuine empathy for all living things through her poems, which are marked by untainted simplicity and striking sensitivity. This anthology is also a tribute to Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996), a Russian émigré and the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature for 1987, as well as the United States Poet Laureate for 1991-1992. This is a unique bilingual anthology and presents each haiku in both Japanese and English so that non-Japanese-speaking readers can appreciate it. In order to enhance understanding, the identification of the season word of the haiku, as well as some explanations of the cultural and historical backgrounds, are given where applicable. Enjoy!

This book is the sixth anthology of the original haikus written by this author. The themes for this anthology embrace two of the seven major themes of haiku: 1) daily life or humanity; 2) events or observances, such as traditional seasonal events and religious ceremonies and rituals. This volume is dedicated to the victims of the Minamata Disease, mercury poisoning by industrial waste dumped in the Shiranui (Yatsushiro) Sea, Kumamoto prefecture, as well as to Ishimure Michiko (1927-2018), who was a 'Japanese Rachel Carson.' She fought for the fishermen in Minamata, who had fallen victim to the Minamata Disease. The haikus for February feature them. This is a unique bilingual anthology and presents each haiku in both Japanese and English so that non-Japanese-speaking readers can appreciate it. In order to enhance understanding, the identification of the season word of the haiku, as well as some explanations of the cultural and historical backgrounds are given where applicable. Enjoy!

This is the true story of Japanese prisoners of war, who were detained in Siberia at the end of World War II, and an abandoned dog they found near the concentration camp in Khabarovsk. They named the dog Kuro, and decided to keep her in the concentration camp secretly, where she became their "Hachi-ko" (1923-1935), the most famous, faithful dog in Japan. When they were finally being repatriated in 1956, after a decade of internment, Kuro followed them all the way to Nakhodka port, and jumped into the sea of ice, chasing after their ship. Against regulations, the ship captain stopped and took Kuro aboard. Thus, Kuro was also "repatriated" with the Japanese POWs to Maizuru port, in Kyoto prefecture, in Japan.

This book examines the extraordinary life and career of Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore (October 14, 1856-November 3, 1928). She was a pioneering American woman in many respects. Scidmore traveled to the American frontiers, such as the Dakota territory and the Alaskan wilderness--including the Aleutians--and wrote the first travel guide to Alaska. She was also the first female regular correspondent for National Geographic, and wrote extensively about exotic places in the Far East. Moreover, Scidmore was the original proponent for transplanting Japanese flowering cherry trees to the area around the Potomac tidal basin. However, few records of her life have been preserved, and her life is shrouded in mystery. It is high time that she be given overdue credit for enlightening Americans about exotic cultures, in general, and for introducing the Japanese flowering cherry trees to the U.S. capital, in particular.

This book is the first anthology of the original haikus written by this author. The themes for this anthology embrace three of the seven major themes of 1) the seasons and the weather; 2) astronomy or the heavens; and 3) geography or the earth. This volume is specifically dedicated to the victims of the East Japan Great Earthquake and Tsunami, and the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster. This is a unique bilingual anthology and presents each haiku in both Japanese and English so that non-Japanese-speaking readers can appreciate it. In order to enhance understanding, the identification of the season word of the haiku, as well as some explanations of the cultural and historical backgrounds are given where applicable. Enjoy!

This book is the third anthology of original haikus written by this author. The themes for this anthology embrace one of the seven major themes of fauna. This volume is dedicated to the animals who became victims of World War II and other wars, as well as to two Akita-inus, in association with the Year of the Dog, 2018: Hachi-kō (circa November 14, 1923–March 8, 1935) and Wasao (b. circa summer 2007), who touched the hearts of millions of people worldwide. This anthology is also a tribute to the people who have committed themselves to the protection and welfare of animals. This is a unique bilingual anthology and presents each haiku in both Japanese and English so that non-Japanese-speaking readers can appreciate it. In order to enhance understanding, the identification of the season word of the haiku, as well as some explanations of the cultural and historical backgrounds, are given where applicable. Enjoy!

This book is the seventh anthology of original haikus written by this author. The subjects for this anthology embrace one of the seven major themes of haiku: fauna. This volume is dedicated to the animals who became victims of the East Japan Great Earthquake and Tsunami, and the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster of March 2011, and other natural and manmade disasters, as well as to wildlife in general. This anthology is also a tribute to the people who have devoted themselves to the protection and welfare of animals. They include Takahashi Ryōji, the Crane Man of Kushiro, who has rehabilitated red-crowned cranes in the Kushiro City Red-Crowned Crane Natural Park, Hokkaidō, since the 1960s, and Hoshi Hiroshi and Family, and other volunteers, who have ventured into the exclusion zone of Fukushima and have rescued abandoned animals there since 2011. This is a unique bilingual anthology and presents each haiku in both Japanese and English so that non-Japanese-speaking readers can appreciate it. In order to enhance understanding, the identification of the season word of the haiku, as well as some explanations of the cultural and historical backgrounds, are given where applicable. Enjoy!

This book is a substantial revision and update of "Hachi: The Truth of the Life and Legend of the Most Famous Dog in Japan" (2013), and is published in commemoration of the ninety-fourth anniversary of Hachi's birthday. This new book has incorporated new discoveries and developments concerning Hachi since 2013, and presents all aspects of the real life of Hachi, as well as of the people who helped him. In so doing, this book addresses all of the major questions about Hachi that have been raised, including the rumors and speculations, and answers them. After all, Hachi deserves a true record of his whole life. In essence, this book has everything that people ever wanted to know about the most famous dog in Japan.

This book is the second anthology of original haikus written by this author. The themes for this anthology embrace two of the seven major themes of 1) daily life or humanity and 2) events or observances, such as traditional seasonal events and religious ceremonies and rituals. This volume is dedicated to the victims of World War II and other wars—both civilians and rank and file soldiers of all nationalities. This is a unique bilingual anthology and presents each haiku in both Japanese and English so that non-Japanese-speaking readers can appreciate it. In order to enhance understanding, the identification of the season word of the haiku, as well as some explanations of the cultural and historical backgrounds, are given where applicable. Enjoy!

This book is the fifth anthology of the original haikus written by this author. The themes for this anthology embrace three of the seven major themes of haiku: 1) the seasons and the weather; 2) astronomy or the heavens; and 3) geography or the earth. This volume is dedicated to the poet/writer Miyazawa Kenji (August 1896-September 1933), whose works are marked by an expansive and profound interest in the earth, the heavens, the humanities, and religion, and many of the haikus in this collection feature his life and works. This is a unique bilingual anthology and presents each haiku in both Japanese and English so that non-Japanese-speaking readers can appreciate it. In order to enhance understanding, the identification of the season word of the haiku, as well as some explanations of the cultural and historical backgrounds are given where applicable. Enjoy!