Dennis Keene Libri

In these two works by contemporary Japanese playwright Yamazaki Masakazu, potent figures from Japan's past illuminate the psychological and philosophical concerns of the twentieth century. Translated here in full are Zeami (1963), based on the life of the great master of the no theater, and Sanetomo (1973), the hero of which is the Kamakura general and poet. The translation by J. Thomas Rimer includes both an introduction, which discusses the plays, placing them in their specific historical contexts, and an interview with Yamazaki, in which the author speaks of his life, work, and the course of Japanese drama over the past decades.

Exploring the significance of the prose poem in twentieth-century Japanese poetry, this anthology presents a groundbreaking collection that showcases the genre's unique qualities. As the first of its kind in English, it highlights the evolution and cultural impact of prose poetry, originally emerging in nineteenth-century France. This selection offers readers an opportunity to engage with a previously underrepresented literary form, bridging cultural and linguistic divides.