Sunshine's Culture Essay - Kasuga Izumi the Japanese Poet's Lecture

Son Hoyun's International Literary Forum 

Poet Kasuga Izumi's Lecture

                                                                         Poet Kasuga Izumi 

<Observing History>

Mugunghwa the national flower of Korea observed the days of disgrace where the nation silently obeyed 

Describing non-resistance as ‘silently’ she portrays the beautiful ‘Mugunghwa’ the symbol of Korea, as having observed everything. The expression ‘observed’ harbors a strictness akin to the strict eye of God. 

Described as 'silently' Mugunghwa, the symbol of South Korea, observed everything with a strictness akin to the gaze of a stern god.

Born into Japanese colonial rule, Hoyun Son, spent the 1940s as a tender literary girl, and experienced the mandatory use of Japanese, changing Korean names into Japanese names, and conscription.

There were days when I waved the Japanese flag holding one mother country close to heart

Waving the flag beckoning to return to the hometown where parents awaited

One cannot forget the days when she waved the national flag with a complex heart during her sentimental girlhood. Wishing for the safe return of all soldiers beyond nationality – Hoyun Son held this attitude all her life.

Standing with rifles with the 38^th parallel as a border despite sharing the same ancestors

The 38th parallel, dividing the nation and the people. The poet emphasizes the event that happened directly to her, being forced to evacuate due to the Korean War even after her father was kidnapped, showing that the issue remains unresolved.

<The Eye of Recognition>

Living entails a series of decisions and erroneous judgments

Aware that we cannot avoid making choices every day, the poet herself must have lived while contemplating and savoring the fact that even her steps naturally change.

Snow falls gently on the sharp thorns of a rosa multiflora to avoid being pricked.

Even though snow falls on the thorns of a rosa multiflora, it descends quietly and gently. What do the thorns of a rosa multiflora symbolize? The way snow falls would symbolize the direction of human hearts.

Snow piles up at the same height on a tall pot and a small pot

The snow, falling equally on tall and short pots, may symbolize the love of God descending equally from the sky. Quietly, the eye of recognition moves through the scenery before the poet.

<Poetic Lyricism>

Moonlight shines through the wrinkles of a purple skirt worn to block the cold wind

Even on a rough sea route heading south, the round moon follows and shines on the deck Despite enduring a difficult life with a young baby during tumultuous times, the poet perceived the landscape beautifully and turned it into art.

From the day my mother conceived me by the riverside, my poetic journey began

The poet's belief in the rhythmic structure of Japanese tanka must have been profound, leading her to compose tanka throughout her life. Her conviction that the structure of tanka accepted all her feelings, wishes and prayers made it possible.

Her abundant human exchanges including Interaction with Masutomi Teruko, the dormitory supervisor, her mentor Sasaki Nobutsuna, and ‘Yamanobe’ organizer Yoshida Hiroshi must have allowed her not to miss out on composing tanka.

Returning home after a long period of evacuation, the poet found letters from Sasaki Nobutsuna and Masutomi Teruko. Moved by their concerns about her well-being, the poet swiftly replied, almost entirely in a 7-5 syllable tanka format.

This passage clearly indicates how deeply the 7-5 syllable structure permeates the poet's being. Though Japanese 7-5 syllables and the 31 syllables of tanka are small in number, there seems to be something mysteriously influential about it.

Only in tanka do I find solace, overcoming the unbearable days

Even if I were to lose everything I have, let my songs never wither

<Son Hoyun's Tanka Characteristics>

A longing for peace, deep insight and perception, delicate sensitivity, and faith.
These are the poet's character, her way of life, and her works reflect them.
Conversely, composing tanka may have been a way to correct her mind.
Tanka certainly has that effect.

Faith must have also been a significant anchor.

Standing on the cliff of despair, lamenting it's the end, a sacred verse comes to mind

The valiant, protracted struggle against illness would only be known to God the Creator

Through her works, one can understand the sentiments of those who lived through that era.

In Son Hoyun's poetry, numerous scenes and emotions of people from that time emerge. Even as time passes, what transcends nations and peoples remains unchanged. While people yearn for peace, war persists, from the age of Greek tragedies to the present. Through culture and art, not just through politics and economics, hearts communicate with each other. Hoyun Son's works serve this purpose.

'Believing if I go south I can survive and fleeing the village with only a dress'

'The endless procession of refugees with the sound of impending pursuit echoing from behind'

The world is becoming a whirlpool of tragedy. Hoyun Son's works have been translated into Korean, English and French by Poet Sunshine Lee, Son’s daughter. May they spread far and wide from mouth to mouth, heart to heart throughout the world.

This endeavor is truly a contribution to world peace, I am convinced.

                    Prof. Nakanishi Susumu (left) & Poet Kasuga Izumi, Poet Onda in the back