The art of tanka poetry in the digital age
When people think of Japanese poetry, they usually picture haiku. But did you know that tanka (短歌) is even older and has been loved for over 1,300 years? With five lines and 31 syllables (5-7-5-7-7), tanka is all about expressing deep feelings in a short, beautiful way. My grandmother loves tanka poetry. At the end of every letter from her, there are always a few tanka written. Let’s take a look together at this wonderful world.
📜 A little history
Tanka goes back to the Manyōshū (万葉集), Japan’s oldest poetry collection from the 8th century. Back then, people used it to share love, longing, or even political messages. It was like the text messages of the Heian court!
💌 The language of emotion
Unlike haiku, which often focuses on nature, tanka is more personal. It’s about the heart—love, sadness, joy, or quiet reflection. That’s why it was so popular in ancient Japan: nobles exchanged tanka the way we send DMs today.
📱 Tanka in the digital age
You might think tanka belongs in dusty old books, but guess what? It’s making a comeback online!
- Twitter poets write tanka in Japanese and English (perfect for short posts)
- Apps and blogs let people share their own tanka instantly
- Some musicians even turn tanka into song lyrics 🎶
🌸 Famous tanka examples
Here are three beautiful tanka to get you inspired:
- Anonymous, Manyōshū (万葉集)
春の野に
すみれ摘みにと
来し我そ
野をなつかしみ
一夜寝にける
Haru no no ni / sumire tsumi ni to / koshi ware so / no o natsukashimi / hito yo ne ni keru
“In the spring field, I came to pick violets. But the field felt so dear, I stayed and slept there one night.”
- Ono no Komachi (小野小町)
花の色は
移りにけりな
いたづらに
我が身世にふる
ながめせしまに
Hana no iro wa / utsuri ni kerina / itazura ni / waga mi yo ni furu / nagame seshi ma ni
“The color of flowers has already faded away, while I idly spent my life in the long rains.”
- Fujiwara no Teika (藤原定家)
見渡せば
花も紅葉も
なかりけり
浦の苫屋の
秋の夕暮れ
Mi-wataseba / hana mo momiji mo / nakari keri / ura no tomaya no / aki no yūgure
“When I look out, neither blossoms nor autumn leaves remain—only a thatched hut by the bay in the autumn dusk.”
That’s it for today! Speak again next week!
Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻🏫
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