Classical Taste, Sassa Seisetsu, Nunami Keion: Various Aspects of Evaluation of Haiku in the Meiji 40s

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  • 古典趣味・佐々醒雪・沼波瓊音
  • ――明治四十年代における俳句評価の諸相――

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<p>This paper surveys the evaluations of haiku in 1907-1912 from various perspectives and proposes a different reading of haiku history, focusing on composition. In the wake of the Russo-Japanese War, discussions broke out concerning national character and literary history, and those aspects of haiku that cannot be restored to “the style of haiku” (haiku-hyōgen).” While some haiku poets such as Takahama Kyoshi and Kawahigashi Hekigotou differed over the appropriateness of “a taste for the classics” (koten shumi), others such as Haga Yaichi put forward an opinion in which “the taste of the nation” (kokumin no shikō) was linked to “self-improvement” (shūyō). Another discussion lead by Sassa Seisetsu, who was interested in “history of literature” (bungakushi) aimed at “literature” which “a nation” enjoy at large. He realized that there were “faint feelings” and “vague tastes” which were peculiar to “the classics” that is particular to “the national character” but criticized a narrow “taste” which lacked “universality.” Organizing “the course of haiku of the Great Empire of Japan” (the Dainippon haikai kōshūkai), Nunami Keion provided alternative opportunities for the reception of haiku, which was generally read in haiku gatherings or in newspapers and literary magazines.</p>

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