The winner of the third prize is Richard Steiner, who is a longterm resident of Kyoto, a noted woodblock printmaker, and a member of WiK. (See his piece on writer’s block.) The judges felt that while the piece was simple in conception, it captured the charm of the city which lies beneath the tourist veneer. …Read More
Author: John Dougill (Page 39 of 45)
Mayumi Kawaharada grew up, lives and works in Kyoto. She started writing English haiku in 2004, as a member of the Hailstone Haiku Circle led by Stephen Henry Gill. Many of her works appear on their blog and in their books. Recently she self-published her first bilingual haiku and photo booklet, Three and half years …Read More
Based in Kyoto, Edward’s work has appeared in a variety of print and online publications. Co-editor of the Deep Kyoto Walks anthology, he is currently at work on a series of books about walking Japan’s ancient highways. (For an interview with him conducted by Michael Lambe, see here. For his blog, click here.) ****************** Around …Read More
The Japan Times carries a short review today of Kawabata’s ‘Koto’, a short novel set in Kyoto that is as much about the city as it is about the twins at the heart of the story. (The original review can be read here.) ******************* by Nicolas Gattig Special To The Japan Times Mar 19, 2016 …Read More
The judges of the first WiK Writing Competition are delighted to announce the winners, as listed below. Each of the three prize winners will receive a small gift from the Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau, in addition to which the First Prize will feature in the forthcoming WiK Anthology. The Local Prize Winner will receive …Read More
Kevin Ramsden’s novel The Drop was a gripping read of the London underworld, and personally I was impressed by the mastery of different voices and the weaving together of the plot. The link for the book is here – not only is it highly recommendable, but all profits go to provide educational opportunities for children …Read More
Gabi Greve lives in the Okayama countryside and is known to many web users because she has compiled multiple websites of information about Japan. Born in Germany in 1948, Gabi is a medical doctor with a degree from Heidelberg University. She has been living in Japan since 1977 as a freelance translator and writer about …Read More
Books set in Kyoto start with the classics… Murasaki Shikibu – The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) (c.1000-21) Sei Shonagon – The Pillow Book (Makura no Sōshi) (1002) Kamo no Chomei – An Account of a Ten Foot Square Hut (Hojoki) (1212) anon – Ōkagami (the Great Mirror) date unknown anon – The Tales of the Heike (Heike Monogatari) mid-13th …Read More
As you can see from the picture above, the Konpuku-ji temple in north-east Kyoto has recently made efforts to display its haiku connections as best it can. This includes setting up a board inside the Basho-an hut that Buson restored in honour of his predecessor. On the board are six haiku which Buson wrote, presumably …Read More
WiK’s February event featured Brian Daizen Victoria, a Soto Zen priest, talking about his current work on Zen and terrorism in the 1930s. Brian is widely known for his book on Zen at War, first published in 1997 with a new edition in 2006. It has its own Wikipedia page, and has been influential enough …Read More
Kyoto Writing Competition
WiK Anthologies
The Nature of Kyoto (2023)
Eds. Lisa Twaronite Sone & Robert Weis
Foreword by Pico Iyer
Structures of Kyoto (2021)
Eds: Rebecca Otowa & Karen Lee Tawarayama
Foreword by Judith Clancy
Encounters with Kyoto (2019)
Eds: Jann Williams & Ian Josh Yates
Foreword by Juliet Winters Carpenter
Echoes (2017)
Eds: John Dougill, Amy Chavez, & Mark Richardson
Preface by Alex Kerr
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