Sakutarō Hagiwara | Granta

Sakutarō Hagiwara

Sakutarō Hagiwara (1886–1942) is a seminal figure in modern Japanese literature who broke traditional poetic forms in favour of a free verse style that mixed literary and everyday diction with intense imagery, deep philosophy, and various verbal distortions. An accomplished mandolin player, Hagiwara was the author of six books of poetry, as well as collections of essays and aphorisms.