Japanese Poetry /
Translated by Charles Egan

Japanese Poems from Nichibei Shimbun

The Japanese language newspaper Nichibei Shimbun (The Japanese-American News) was founded in 1899 by publisher Abiko Kyutaro. Poetry submitted by the public was regularly published in Nichibei. A Night at Angel Island and On Angel Island were both translated by Charles Egan from what was originally printed in the newspaper.

Journey of a Modern Day Basho

On May 8, 2010, Elaine Fong and Bruce Mui Ghent of Kiku Daiko performed an excerpt from their work-in-progress taiko/theater piece for Poetry in Motion: A Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Angel Island Immigration Station.

Taking inspiration from the poems and travels of the 17th century poet Basho, Fong and Ghent re-imagined the journey of a poet in 21st century America. Using instruments from Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Brazil, they evoked the sights, sounds and rhythms of what a modern-day traveler would encounter in a place like San Francisco.  

 

Poem translations are included with the express permission of Dr. Charles Egan.

AIISF's Voices of Resilience, curated by Russell Nauman, Operations Manager and Edward Tepporn, Executive Director, 2020.

Poems were translated by Charles Egan for his book Voices of Angel Island: Inscriptions and Immigrant Poetry, 1910-1945 (New York: Bloomsbury Academic TBD).

Images provided by Russell Nauman, 2020.

Angel Island Poetry in Motion Part 2 of 11, was recorded by the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation for the 100th anniversary celebration at Angel Island State Park, performance features Elaine Fong and Bruce Mui Ghent with introduction by Felicia Lowe, 2010.