The Gogyohka Society

Mr. Kusakabe is the founder and pioneer of the Gogyohka poetry form. His idea was to take the traditional form of Tanka poetry (which is written in five lines) and eliminate its syllable structure, creating a freer form of verse. Mr. Kusakabe was born in 1938, grew up in the Kawaga Prefecture and attended Tokyo University, earning a degree in Western Literature. An avid Tanka writer, he developed the concept of Gogyohka in 1957, at the age of 19. At that time, his mentors frowned upon his breaking tradition and encouraged him to stay with the traditional poetry forms. For 37 years he faithfully continued to write Gogyohka and publish his own poetry books. In 1994, sensing the modern Japanese public would be receptive; he began his efforts to spread Gogyohka as a new movement in poetry. There are now half a million people writing this form of verse in Japan, including 150,000 children. Mr. Kusakabe established a Gogyohka society and publishes a magazine every month featuring work by its members. Within Japan there are 150 local Gogyohka societies. Every month each group holds a poetry meeting in which participants gather to share and discuss each other’s work. In 2008, Mr. Kusakabe held the first World Gogyohka Conference, and an international chapter of the Society was established in the U.S. Mr. Kusakabe is currently writing his second Gogyohka introduction book in English.

 

In addition to the many workshops he teaches in Japan, Mr. Kusakabe has taught workshops in Thailand, Korea, and the following in the U.S.:
2006 - Horace Mann High School
2006 - New York University
2006-2007 - Led several private workshops for Japanese American poets in New Jersey, Manhattan, and New Rochelle
2007 - Japanese American Society, Manhattan
2007 - 3 Elementary schools (2 were Japanese American)
2007 New Jersey Japanese American School
2007 - New Rochelle Junior High after school program
2007 - Yonkers International Baccalaureate High School
2007 - Private Writer’s Workshop in Manhattan
2007 - Private Writer’s Workshop in Ossining
2007 - Ohashi Institute, Manhattan
2008 - New York Botanical Garden Kiku Show, Bronx
2008 – Private Writer’s Workshop in Yonkers
October 2008 - Mr. Kusakabe held the first World Gogyohka Conference in Tokyo.

Gogyohka books produced and published by Enta Kusakabe:
Gogyohka Collections
Kokoro no Hate (Limits of the Heart): 1993 Shiseisha
Kawa no Oto ga Kasuka ni Suru (The Faint Sound of the River): 1994
Umiyama (Sea and Mountain): 2005

Introductions to Gogyohka
Gogyohka wo Hajimeru Hito no Tame (Gogyohka for Beginners): Shiseisha
Gogyohka no Nyumon (Introduction to Gogyohka): Tokyo Doshoten
Gogyohka Shukashu (Selected Gogyohka Works): Shiseisha
Gogyohka no Jiten (Dictionary of Gogyohka): Tokyo Do
Mokuyobi no Gogyohka (Thursday’s Gokyoka): Tokyo Do
Koi no Gogyohka (Love Gokyoka): Kodansha Bunko (paperback)
Tabi no Gogyohka (Gogyohka Travels): Shiseisha
Koi no Gogyohka Waku Waku 350 (350 Love Gogyohka): Shiseisha
Kodomotachi no Gogyohka (Gogyohka for Children): Shiseisha
Gogyohka (in English) 2006

He has also translated many books into Japanese, including books on science, fitness, and Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Popeye and Donald Duck.

The U.S. Chapter of The Gogyohka Society was established in Autumn 2008 by Linda Vovos, Elizabeth Phaire, and Joseph Gesick, along with founder Enta Kusakabe. The Society is devoted to introducing gogyohka to the public in America and around the world, encouraging people of all ages to write poetry for authentic self-expression. Click here for upcoming Gogyohka workshops. Or, contact us to set up a workshop in your area.