The Gogyohka Society

Gogyohka is a new form of Japanese short poetry, founded and pioneered by Japanese poet Enta Kusakabe. Gogyohka is pronounced go-gee-yoh-kuh (the “g”s are hard as in “good”), and literally translated means “five line poem”. Gogyohka is five lines of free verse on any subject matter. There is no set syllable pattern, however the poem should be short and succinct. The goal is to compellingly capture an idea, observation, feeling, memory, or experience in just a few words.

Gogyohka is a fun and easy form, making poetry writing accessible to everyone, including children. Yet it is challenging as a method of practice for self-reflection, contemplation, and distilling one’s thoughts.

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.