was a Japanese poet. He died of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...

. Well known as both a tanka and 'modern-style' (shintaishi or simply shi) or 'free-style' (jiyūshi) poet, he began as a member of the Myōjō

Myojo

' was the title of a monthly literary magazine first published in Japan between February 1900 and November 1908.The name Myōjō can be translates as either Bright Star or Morning Star. It was the organ of a poetry circle called Shinshisha which had been founded by Yosano Tekkan in 1899...

 group of naturalist poets but later joined the "socialistic" group of Japanese poets and renounced naturalism.

Major works

His major works were two volumes of tanka poems plus his diaries:

• Ichiakuno suna (A Handful of Sand) 1910
• Kanashiki gangu (Sad Toys) published posthumously in 1912

Timeline

• 1886 - Born at Joko Temple, Hinoto-mura (presently named Hinoto, Tamayama-mura
  Tamayama, Iwate
  Tamayama was a village located in Iwate District, Iwate, Japan.On January 10, 2006 Tamayama was merged into the city of Morioka....
  
  ), Minami-Iwate-gun, Iwate Prefecture, to Ittei, the father, who was the priest of the temple, and Katsu, the mother.
• 1887 - Moved to Shibutami-mura (presently named Shibutami, Tamayama-mura)
• 1891 - Attended Shibutami Elementary School (4 years)
• 1895 - Attended Morioka Upper Elementary School (2 years)
• 1898 - Attended Morioka Middle School
• 1899 - Published literary booklet “Choji-kai”, printed by hand with method called hectograph
• 1900 - Formed self-study group “Union Club” in order to learn English. First and second issues of “Choji Magazine” were published. Fell in love with Setsuko Horiai who was a student at Morioka Girls’ Middle School.
• 1901 - Published the third issue of “Mikazuki” (crescent moon), a magazine for circulating, and the first issue of “Nigitama.” His tankas appeared on Iwate Nippo
  Iwate Nippo
  is a Japanese regional daily newspaper published mainly in Iwate prefecture. The company is based in Morioka....
  
   (news paper) under the pen name of “Suiko”, the first public appearance of his works.
• 1902 - His tankas appeared on “Myōjō”, a literary magazine, under the pen name of “Hakuhin”. Dropped out of Morioka Middle School because of his aspiration for literature. Went to Tokyo and made the acquaintances of Tekkan
  Tekkan Yosano
  was the pen-name of Yosano Hiroshi, a Japanese author and poet active in late Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa period Japan. His wife was fellow author Yosano Akiko. Kaoru Yosano, cabinet minister and politician is his grandson.-Early life:...
  
   and Akiko Yosano.
• 1903 - Went home to Shibutami. Serial articles “Ideas of Wagner” appeared on Iwate Nippo. Poem ”Shucho” (sorrowful melodies) was appeared on “Myōjō”. The pen name of “Takuboku” was used for the first time. In November, joined the circle of poets “Shinshisha”.
• 1904 - Serial articles “Senun Yoroku” (personal memorandum of war time) appeared on Iwate Nippo. This was right after the outbreak of Russo-Japanese War.
• 1905 - The first collection of poems “Akogare” (admiration) was published by Odajima Shobo. Got married to HORIAI Setsuko. Published literary magazine “Sho-Tenchi” (small world).
• 1906 - Became a substitute teacher at Shibutami Upper Elementary School. Novel “Kumo wa Tensai dearu” (the clouds are geniuses) was written, which was never published during his lifetime. Novel “Soretsu” (funeral procession) appeared on literary magazine “Myōjō” (December issue of 1906).
• 1907 - Became a substitute teacher at Hakodate Yayoi Elementary School, and a freelance reporter at Hokodate Nichinichi Shinbun (news paper). There at the Hakodate Yayoi Elementary School, he met Chieko Tachibana, who he was instantly awestruck by her beauty. Although Takuboku only encountered Chieko in person twice, she left a lasting impression on him, and 22 of the tanka written in "Wasuregataki-Hitobito" in "Ichiaku-no-Suna" were written about Chieko Tachibana. Later despite efforts to visit Chieko in her home in Sapporo, to pursue courtship, he had learned from her father that she had recently been married. Because of the great fire in Hakodate, he lost both jobs and left Hakodate. Employed at places like Hokumon Shinpo or Otaru Nippo (publishers of news paper)
• 1908 - Employed at Kushiro Shinbun (news paper), wrote “Benifude-dayori”. Moved to Hongo, Tokyo in spring.
• 1909 - Employed at Asahi Shinbun as a proof reader. Issued literary magazine “Subaru” as a publisher.
• 1910 - First collection of tankas “Ichiaku-no-Suna” (a fistful of sand) was published by Shinonome-do Shoten.
• 1911 - Moved to Koishikawa because of health reasons.
• 1912 - In March, his mother Katsu died. He himself died of tuberculosis on April 13, being looked after by his friend Bokusui Wakayama and his wife Setsuko, at age of 27. After his death, his second collection of tankas “Kanashiki Gangu” (grieving toys) was published by Shinonome-do Shoten.
• 1926 - In August, his grave was erected by both Miyazaki Ikuu, his brother-in-law, who was also a poet, and Okada Kenzo, the chief of Hakodate Library.
• 1988 - The main-belt asteroid 4672 Takuboku
  4672 Takuboku
  4672 Takuboku is a main-belt asteroid discovered on April 17, 1988 by Seiji Ueda and Hiroshi Kaneda at Kushiro. It was named after the Japanese poet Takuboku Ishikawa .- External links :*...
  
   (1988 HB) is named in his honor.

External links

e-texts of Ishikawa Takuboku's works at Aozora bunko

Aozora Bunko

Aozora Bunko is a Japanese digital library. This online collection encompasses several thousands of works of Japanese-language fiction and non-fiction. These include out-of-copyright books or works that the authors wish to make freely available....

Takuboku and Socialism