Picture-Book Series
Words Take Flight
Words Take Flight
An Anthology of Modern Japanese Poetry
Idea Institute’s annual multilingual picture-book project, which we began in 1997, is now in its thirtieth year. To commemorate such a milestone occasion, we have created this year’s picture book in eight languages: Japanese, English, French, Spanish, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Thai, and Turkish.
The book’s theme is modern Japanese poetry.
Japan’s early modern period is an era that produced many highly diverse and unique writers. The poems and prose we have selected are filled with harsh realism, warmth, humor, and appreciation for the beauty of nature, giving them an enduring appeal that has withstood the test of time. While preserving the core elements of the original Japanese, we tried to translate them so that they can be read as standalone poems in each of the seven other languages. We hope they will bring joy to many people around the world.
This year’s picture book was once again made possible by the partnership of FOR-A Holdings Co., Ltd.