was a Japanese

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems ( oral or wri ...

, essayist and translator of English language novels and poetry who was active during the

Shōwa period Shōwa may refer to: * Hirohito (1901–1989), the 124th Emperor of Japan, known posthumously as Emperor Shōwa * Showa Corporation, a Japanese suspension and shock manufacturer, affiliated with the Honda keiretsu Japanese eras * Jōwa (Heian ...

of Japan.

Biography

Tamura was born in what is now Sugamo, Tokyo. After graduation from the Third Metropolitan Commercial High School, he was hired by

Tokyo Gas , founded in 1885, is the primary provider of natural gas to the main cities of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Yamanashi, and Nagano. , Tokyo Gas is the largest natural gas utility in Japan. Timeline *October 1, ...

, but quit work after only one day. He then continued his studies, and was a graduate of the Literature Department of Meiji University, where he met a group of young poets interested in

modernism Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...

. He was drafted into the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrend ...

in 1943, and although he did not see combat, the fact that many of his friends died in the war left him psychologically scarred. In 1947, after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, he revived the literary magazine ''Arechi'' ("The Waste Land"), with his surviving school friends, and became an important figure in post-war modern Japanese poetry. He also began translation work of

English language English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the ...

novels, starting with the works of Agatha Christie. His first poetry anthology, ''Yosen no hi no yoru'' ("Four Thousand Days and Nights", 1956), introduced a hard tone to modern Japanese poetry, using

paradox A paradox is a logically self-contradictory statement or a statement that runs contrary to one's expectation. It is a statement that, despite apparently valid reasoning from true premises, leads to a seemingly self-contradictory or a logically u ...

es,

metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide (or obscure) clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are often compared wi ...

s, and sharp imagery to describe the sense of dislocation and crisis experienced by people who had suffered through the rapid modernization of Japan and the destruction of World War II. With the publication of ''Kotoba no nai sekai'' ("World Without Words", 1962), he was established as a major poet. He spent five months at the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into 12 col ...

's International Writing Program in 1967-68 as Guest Poet. Later, he traveled to

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

and

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. These travel experiences filled another twenty eight volumes of poetry. He was awarded the prestigious

Yomiuri Prize The is a literary award in Japan. The prize was founded in 1949 by the Yomiuri Shinbun Company to help form a "strong cultural nation". The winner is awarded two million Japanese yen and an inkstone. Award categories For the first two years, ...

In 1984. Tamura was awarded the 54th Japan Academy of Arts Award for Poetry in 1998. He died of esophageal cancer later that same year. His grave is at the temple of

Myōhon-ji is one of the oldest Nichiren sect temples in Kamakura, Kanagawa. Its official name is . "Chōkō" comes from the posthumous name of Nichiren's father and "Myōhon" from his mother's. History In 1202 Minamoto no Yoriie became ''shōgun'' at ...

in Kamakura.

Bibliography

*''World Without Words''. Trans. Takako Uchino Lento. The Ceres Press (1971). *''Dead Languages: Selected Poems 1946-1984''. Trans. Christopher Drake. Katdid Books (1984). *''Poetry of Ryuichi Tamura''. Trans. Samuel Grolmes & Yukiko Tsumura. CCC Books (1998). *''Tamura Ryuichi Poems, 1946 - 1998'', Trans. Samuel Grolmes & Yukiko Tsumura. CCC Books (2000). *''Tamura Ryuichi: On the Life and Work of a 20th Century Master''. Ed. Takako Lento & Wayne Miller. Pleiades Press, (2011).

Publications in Japan

*''Four Thousand Days and Nights'' (1956) *''The World Without Words'' (1962) *''Poetry of Ryuichi Tamura'' (1966) *''A Green Thought'' (1967) *''New Year’s Letter'' (1973) *''Dead Language'' (1976) *''Misunderstanding'' (1978) *''Water Hemisphere'' (1980) *''A Little Bird Laughed'' (1981) *''The Water Mills of Scotland'' (1982) *''Five Minutes to Go'' (1982) *''A Cheerful End of the Century'' (1983) *''The Joy of A Slave'' (1984) *''A Wine Red Summer Solstice'' (1985) *''A Poison Cup'' (1986) *''The Joy of Living'' (1988) *''From the New World'' (1990) *''My Sailing Journal'' (1991) *''Hummingbird'' (1992) *''The Ashen Colored Notebook'' (1993) *''Foxglove'' (1995) *''1999'' (1998) *''The Traveler Returned'' (1998)

Selected translation works

* Agatha Christie :;

Hercule Poirot Hercule Poirot (, ) is a fictional Belgian detective created by British writer Agatha Christie. Poirot is one of Christie's most famous and long-running characters, appearing in 33 novels, two plays ('' Black Coffee'' and ''Alibi''), and more ...

:; ''

The Mysterious Affair at Styles ''The Mysterious Affair at Styles'' is a detective novel by British writer Agatha Christie. It was written in the middle of the First World War, in 1916, and first published by John Lane in the United States in October 1920 and in the United ...

'', ''

The Murder on the Links ''The Murder on the Links'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company, Dodd, Mead & Co in March 1923, and in the UK by The Bodley Head in May of the same year. It is the second novel ...

'', ''

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd ''The Murder of Roger Ackroyd'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in June 1926 in the United Kingdom by William Collins, Sons and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company. It is the third n ...

'', '' The Big Four'', ''

The Mystery of the Blue Train ''The Mystery of the Blue Train'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by William Collins & Sons on 29 March 1928 and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in ...

'', ''

Peril at End House ''Peril at End House'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the US by the Dodd, Mead and Company in February 1932 and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in March of the same year. The US editi ...

'', ''

Three Act Tragedy ''Three Act Tragedy'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company in 1934 under the title ''Murder in Three Acts'' and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in ...

'', ''

The A.B.C. Murders ''The A.B.C. Murders'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, featuring her characters Hercule Poirot, Arthur Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp, as they contend with a series of killings by a mysterious murderer kn ...

'', ''

Mrs McGinty's Dead ''Mrs McGinty's Dead'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in February 1952 and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 3 March the same year.Chris Peers, Ralph ...

'', ''

Dead Man's Folly ''Dead Man's Folly'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in October 1956 and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 5 November of the same year. The US edition retailed at $2.9 ...

'' :;

Miss Marple Miss Marple is a fictional character in Agatha Christie's crime novels and short stories. Jane Marple lives in the village of St. Mary Mead and acts as an amateur consulting detective. Often characterized as an elderly spinster, she is one of Ch ...

:; ''

The Murder at the Vicarage ''The Murder at the Vicarage'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in October 1930 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year. The UK editio ...

'', '' A Murder Is Announced'', '' They Do It with Mirrors'' :; Other Works and Collections :; ''

The Secret Adversary ''The Secret Adversary'' is the second published detective fiction novel by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in January 1922 in the United Kingdom by The Bodley Head and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in ...

'', ''

The Listerdale Mystery ''The Listerdale Mystery'' is a short story collection written by Agatha Christie and first published in the UK by William Collins and Sons in June 1934.Chris Peers, Ralph Spurrier and Jamie Sturgeon. ''Collins Crime Club – A checklist of Fi ...

'', ''

The Sittaford Mystery ''The Sittaford Mystery'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in 1931 under the title of ''The Murder at Hazelmoor'' and in UK by the Collins Crime Club on 7 Sep ...

'', ''

Why Didn't They Ask Evans? ''Why Didn't They Ask Evans?'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club in September 1934 and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company in 1935 under the title of ...

'', ''

Towards Zero ''Towards Zero'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in June 1944, and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in July of the same year. The first US edition of the novel retailed ...

'', ''

Crooked House ''Crooked House'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in March 1949 and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 23 May of the same year. The action takes place in and near L ...

'' *

Lloyd Alexander Lloyd Chudley Alexander (January 30, 1924 – May 17, 2007) was an American author of more than 40 books, primarily fantasy novels for children and young adults. Over his seven-decade career, Alexander wrote 48 books, and his work has been tran ...

- ''The Towncats and Other Tales'' *

Eric Ambler Eric Clifford Ambler OBE (28 June 1909 – 22 October 1998) was an English author of thrillers, in particular spy novels, who introduced a new realism to the genre. Also working as a screenwriter, Ambler used the pseudonym Eliot Reed for book ...

- ''Epitaph for a Spy'' *

L. Frank Baum Lyman Frank Baum (; May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author best known for his children's books, particularly ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' and its sequels. He wrote 14 novels in the ''Oz'' series, plus 41 other novels (not includ ...

- '' A Kidnapped Santa Claus'' * Anthony Browne - ''Bear Hunt'' *

Donald Crews Donald Crews (born August 30, 1938) is an American illustrator and writer of children's picture books. In 2015, the American Library Association (ALA) honored him with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, recognizing his lasting contribution to childr ...

- ''

Freight Train Rail freight transport is the use of railroads and trains to transport cargo as opposed to human passengers. A freight train, cargo train, or goods train is a group of freight cars (US) or goods wagons (International Union of Railways) haul ...

'' *

Freeman Wills Crofts Freeman Wills Crofts FRSA (1 June 1879 – 11 April 1957) was an Irish mystery author, best remembered for the character of Inspector Joseph French. A railway engineer by training, Crofts introduced railway themes into many of his stories, ...

- ''

The Cask ''The Cask'' is a 1920 detective novel by the Irish-born writer Freeman Wills Crofts. His debut novel, it is considered his masterpiece. Long after the author's reputation had declined, this book was still hailed by critics as a cornerstone of th ...

'' * Roald Dahl - '' Someone Like You'', ''

James and the Giant Peach ''James and the Giant Peach'' is a popular children's novel written in 1961 by British author Roald Dahl. The first edition, published by Alfred Knopf, featured illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. There have been re-illustrated versions of ...

'', ''

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' is a 1964 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. The story features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. The story was originall ...

'', '' Fantastic Mr Fox'', ''

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator ''Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator'' is a children's book by British author Roald Dahl. It is the sequel to ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'', continuing the story of young Charlie Bucket and chocolatier Willy Wonka as they travel in t ...

'', ''

The Enormous Crocodile ''The Enormous Crocodile'' is the title character in a British 1978 children's story, written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. The story was adapted into a '90s TV special. Synopsis The story begins in Africa in a big, deep, mudd ...

'', ''

The Twits ''The Twits'' is a humorous children's book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. It was written in 1979, and first published by Jonathan Cape in 1980. The story features The Twits (Mr. and Mrs. Twit), a spiteful, idle unk ...

'', ''

My Uncle Oswald ''My Uncle Oswald'' is a 1979 adult novel written by Roald Dahl. The novel stars Uncle Oswald, a character who previously appeared in " The Visitor" and " Bitch", two short stories also written by Roald Dahl (and which can both be found in th ...

'' *

Evan Hunter Evan Hunter, born Salvatore Albert Lombino,(October 15, 1926 – July 6, 2005) was an American author and screenwriter best known for his 87th Precinct novels, written under his Ed McBain pen name, and the novel upon which the film '' Blackb ...

- ''Criminal Conversation'' *

Roger Hargreaves Charles Roger Hargreaves (9 May 1935 – 11 September 1988) was an English author and illustrator of children's books. He created the ''Mr. Men'' series, ''Little Miss'' series and ''Timbuctoo'' series, intended for young readers. The simple and ...

- ''Mr. Happy'', ''Mr. Nosey'', ''Mr. Daydream'', ''Mr. Silly'', ''Mr. Small'', ''Mr. Greedy'', ''Mr. Bump'', ''Mr. Topsy-Turvy'', ''Mr. Uppity'', ''

Mr. Tickle ''Mr. Tickle'' is the first book in the '' Mr. Men'' series by Roger Hargreaves which was published on 10 August 1971. The character of the story was originally based on a question by his son Adam Hargreaves, who asked him what a tickle would l ...

'', ''Mr. Messy'', ''Mr. Sneeze'' (Some stories from

Mr. Men ''Mr. Men'' is a British series of children's books by English author Roger Hargreaves which began publication in August 1971. From 1981, an accompanying series of Little Miss books by the same author (but with female characters) was published. ...

Series) * Theo. LeSieg - ''Ten Apples Up on Top!'' * Bill Peet - '' Kermit the Hermit'', ''Buford the Little Bighorn'' *

Ellery Queen Ellery Queen is a pseudonym created in 1929 by American crime fiction writers Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee and the name of their main fictional character, a mystery writer in New York City who helps his police inspector father solve ...

- ''The Tragedy of X'', ''The Tragedy of Y'', ''The Tragedy Of Z'', ''Drury Lane's Last Case'' ( Drury Lane Series) *

Anne Rice Anne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien; October 4, 1941 – December 11, 2021) was an American author of gothic fiction, erotic literature, and Christian literature. She was best known for her series of novels '' The Vampire Chronicles''. ...

- ''

Interview with the Vampire ''Interview with the Vampire'' is a gothic horror and vampire novel by American author Anne Rice, published in 1976. It was her debut novel. Based on a short story Rice wrote around 1968, the novel centers on vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac ...

'' *

Tomi Ungerer Jean-Thomas "Tomi" Ungerer (; 28 November 1931 – 9 February 2019) was an Alsatian artist and writer. He published over 140 books ranging from children's books to adult works and from the fantastic to the autobiographical. He was known for sha ...

- ''The Sorcerer's Apprentice'', ''Zeralda's Ogre'', '' The Beast of Monsieur Racine'', '' Moon Man'', ''The Hut''

External links

bio with list of works and photos

References

* Tamura, Ryuichi. ''Poems 1946-1998''. Trans. Samuel Grolmes & Tsumura Yumiko. CCC Press (2000). {{DEFAULTSORT:Tamura, Ryuichi 1923 births 1998 deaths Writers from Tokyo Meiji University alumni Japanese essayists Japanese translators Deaths from esophageal cancer Deaths from cancer in Japan 20th-century translators 20th-century Japanese poets International Writing Program alumni 20th-century essayists Japanese military personnel of World War II