Poet and prose writer Okamoto Kanoko

Okamoto Kanoko (1889-1939) showed her talent in poetry and prose. She devoted herself to erotic subject in art. Her first collection of poems tanka “Mild Jealosy” (“Karoki Netami”, 1912) consisted of seventy poems. Soon after, a second collection of poems “Love's Anguish” (“Ai no Nayami”, 1918) was published. In search of life support Kanoko devotes herself to Buddhism. Her first work on Buddhism questions “Sangeshō” (1929) consisted of stories, essays, and poems. The nature of her poetry changed; her language and style took on simplicity. The collection of poems “Bathing” (“Yokushin”, 1925) was published. Finishing her poetic activity Kanoko published “My Last Poetry Collection” (“Waga Saishū Kashū”, 1929). The spiritual content of Buddhism gave her new forces, and became a refuge from her family problems. She was attracted by Buddhism aesthetics: church decoration and ceremony magnificence. She looked for beauty signs even in religion. The nature of her poetry changed; it lost a sensual content. Buddhism motives were found in her poems, and her language and style took on simplicity. The trip to Europe transforms Kanoko's creative work, and she appeals to prose. The true success came to her after publishing the story “The Crane Is Sick” (“Tsuru wa Yamiki”, 1936) devoted to the untimely deceased writer Akutagawa Ryūnosuke (1892-1927). So significant became the story “A Mother's Love” (“Boshi Jojō”, 1937), which was based on real events. The motive of erotic connection between mother and son not seldom used in Kanoko's following works can be clearly seen in this story. The famous story “The Old Geisha” (“Rōgishō”, 1938) finished her not long life. In her works Kanoko implements the experience, acquired abroad, and also the realization of Japanese national values.