Hello Dear Readers

This year has been very quiet on the blog as I focus on some other projects, parenting needs, and taking some much-needed time to recharge.

But I do have some updates:

First, I got a new book published by the University of Washington about the compiler of the Hyakunin Isshu, Fujiwara no Teika (poem 97, こぬ). It is a dense book, maybe not for casual readers, but covers the history of Japanese poetry at the time very nicely.

The book has spurned some upcoming history posts, which I hope you will enjoy. I am still reading through later chapters though slowly, when time permits.

Second, I am experimenting with a format change for the poems to help visually, and easier to share outside the blog. I am testing it here with a recent post. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Third, the family and I went to Japan, which I mostly wrote about here on the other blog. I didn’t do anything Hyakunin Isshu or Karuta related (was burned out, see above), but I did pick up some more Japanese books which I hope to share. I am especially happy about the Pillow Book copy I found by Sei Shonagon (poem 62, よを).

Fourth, my karuta playing has mostly dropped to zero. Maybe it’s age, or challenges mentioned above, but competitive gaming just doesn’t have much appeal these days. I play every few months or so, just to stay on my toes, but unless there’s a change, my focus these days (in person and on the blog) is appreciating the poetry and history.

Finally, a big thanks to reader “L” for reporting some typos. During the big update in 2022-2023, I was making mass updates to modernize the site code and add some requested features, but some mistakes slipped through the cracks. So, if something seems off, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.

Thanks all and take care!