Haiku Illustrated

I loved the bilingual edition of these haikus, especially the fact that they included furigana! My Japanese student heart totally thrived reading this. This has definitely motivated me to read more haiku.

It was also really nice to have pictures and drawings almost next to every poem, it made reading the book much more interesting and fun, and since most of the images included were Japanese traditional paintings, or inspired by Japanese culture, it provided a more holistic experience of Japanese art.

I definitely would recommend it, even if you don't particularly love haiku. Just having an interest in Japan is enough for enjoying this book.

Haiku Illustrated by Hart Larrabee [tr] is a beautiful collection of haiku by four of Japan's most recognized and respected masters of the form. The ability to invoke such complete and detailed images in a brief seventeen syllables has always impressed upon me the beauty and accessibility of the haiku, a Japanese tradition of storytelling that has been shared for generations. The gorgeous illustrations that accompany each poem are a lovely addition to an already stunning collection. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in broadening their knowledge of the mysterious and beautiful Japanese culture.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amber Books Ltd for the opportunity to read this impressive collection.