I want to read the work of the old Japenese masters but would like some advice on which are the best translations. I don't want to spend good money on translations which are inferior. Thanks,
Andy
Dear Andy
I have introduced some of the old haiku poets with variations for translations
It is here and it is all free online.
http://wkdhaikutopics.blogspot.com/
Hope it helps
Gabi
Abe Midorijo 阿部みどり女 (1886 - 1980)
Aoki Getto (1879 - 1949)
Akimoto Fujio (1901-1977)
Akutagawa Ryunosuke (1892 - 1927). Kappa, Gaki
Arii Shokyu-Ni(1713-1781) "the Nun Shokyu". Nagamatsu Nami, Kohakuan.
Kohakuan Fufuu, Arii Fufuu (1702 - 1762), her husband
Chomu (Choomu) 蝶夢 (1732 - 1796), a Buddhist priest
shookyuuni shokyuuni shokyu ni
Arima Akito (1930 - )
Awano Seiho (1899-1992)
Basho, Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694)
..... Basho Jittetsu
蕉門十哲 / 10 important Disciples of Matsuo Basho
Bojo Toshiki Born July 7, 1957
Buson, Yosa Buson (1715-1783) ... Painter and Poet
Butsugai Fusen ... 1795～1867 Takeda Genkotsu Motsugi
Chiyo-Ni (Chiyoni), Kaga no Chiyo jo (1703-1775)
Date Masamune 伊達政宗 (1567 - 1636)
Den Sutejo (1633-1698)
Enomoto Seifu-Jo (1731 - 1814) 榎本星布尼
Fukuda Kodoojin 福田古道人 Fukuda Kodojin (1865-1944) Painter and Haiku Poet
. GENROKU - Haikai Poets until the Genroku Period
Goto Takatoshi (Gotoo Takatoshi) 1968 - . Takatoshi Gotoh
Hasegawa Kai
1954 -
Hasegawa Kanajo 長谷川かな女 (1887 - 1969)
Hashimoto Takako 橋本多佳子 (1899-1963)
..... Takako Hashimoto, Death Poems
Hatano Soha (Sooha) 波多野爽波 (1923-1991)
Hino Sojo (1901-1956)
Hoshino Tsubaki (1930 - )
Hosomi Ayako (1907～1997)
Ichihara Tayo-Jo (1772 - 1865)
Iga Manko (Banko) 伊賀万乎（まんこ） (? - 1724, August 15)
and the Iga Students of Basho 伊賀蕉門 Iga Shoomon
Iida Ryuta (Iida Ryouta) 1920-2007
Iida Dakotsu, his father (1885 - 1962)
Imaizumi Sogetsu-ni and her husband, Tsunemaru
(Tsunemaru 1750 - 1810)
Inahata Teiko (1931 -)
President of the Japan Traditional Haiku Association
Inoue Shiro (Inoue Shiroo) 1742 - 1812
Ishida Hakyo (Ishida Hakyoo) (1913-1969)
Kaneko Tohta (Kaneko Toota) 1919- and "Gendai Haiku"
Kato, Shuson Kato (1905-1993). Katoo Shuuson
Katsura Nobuko (1914 - 2004)
Kawabata Bosha (Kawabata Boosha, Bousha) (1897-1941)
Kawahigashi Hekigoto (Hekigodo) (1873-1937)
Kawai Chigetsu 川井智月 / 河合智月 ?(1634-1718)
Kawai Otokuni 川井乙州, her younger brother
Kawasaki Tenko (Tenkoo) Born 1927
Kikaku, Enomoto Kikaku (1661-1707) Takarai Kikaku
Kimura Hiroko 木村浩子 (1937 - )
Kitamura Kigin 北村季吟 June 15. 1623-1705
Kobayashi Issa (June 15, 1763 - January 5, 1828) ISSA
Koha (Kooha) 香波 "Fragrant Wave" (? - 1897、August 14)
Konishi Raizan 小西来山 1654 - 1716, October 3 or November 16)
Kubota Mantaro (Mantaroo) 久保田万太郎 (1889 - 1963)
Kubota Seifu 久保田成布 (1783 - 1848)
..... Kubota Shunkoo 久保田春耕, her husband
Kuroda Momoko 黒田杏子 (b. 1938)
Kuroyanagi Korekoma 黒柳維駒
Kuroyanagi Shooha 黒柳召波 (1727 - 1771) (his father)
Kusumoto Kenkichi 楠本憲吉 (1922‐1988)
Masahide, Mizuta Masahide (1657-1723). 水田正秀（孫右衛門）
Masaki Yuuko, Yuko Masaki 正木 ゆう子 (1952 - )
Masaoka Shiki and Matsuyama
(Shiki : 17 September 1867 –19 September 1902)
Matsumoto Koyuu-Ni (18th c.) / Matsumoto Koyu-ni
..... Baba Songi 馬場存義
Matsunaga Teitoku 松永貞徳 (1571-1653) The Teimon Haikai Group
Mayuzumi Madoka 黛まどか (July 31, 1965 -)
Mayuzumi Shu 黛執(まゆずみしゅう)
Mitsuhashi Takajo (1899-1972)
Mitsuhashi Toshio (1920–2001)
Miwa Suiu-Jo (1766 - 1846)
Miyazawa Kenji Miyazawa (1896 - 1933)
Mizuhara Shūōshi (Shuuooshi, Shuuoushi) (1892-1981)
Mori Sumio (1919 - August 18, 2010)
Mukai Kyorai and Rakushisha Cottage
Murou Saisei (1889 - 1962)
Naito Meisetsu (Naitoo Meisetsu) (1847 - 1926)
Naito Joso (Naitoo Joosoo) (1662 - 1704)
Nakaoka Toshio 中岡敏雄
Nishiyama Soin and the Danrin School (Soo-In) 西山宗因, 談林派
（1605 - May 5, 1682）
Nozawa Boncho 野沢 凡兆 (Nozawa Bonchoo, 1640? - 1714) and his wife Tome, Ukoo 羽紅
Ochi Etsujin 越智越人 （1655 - 1739) / (1656 - 1730)
Ogawa Haritsu (1663～1747) Haiku Poet and Artist
Ozaki Hōsai 尾崎 放哉
Ozaki Hosai, Ozaki Hoosai (1885 - 1926)
Ozawa Minoru 小澤實 (1956 - )
Ransetsu, Hattori Ransetsu (1654-1707)
Sakai Yamei 坂井野明 (1662-1713)
Sakurai Baishitsu 桜井梅室 （1769-1852）
Santoka Taneda Santoka (Taneda Santooka 種田山頭火 (1882-1940)
Sato Koroku (1874 - 1949)
Saito Sanki 西東三鬼 (Saitoo Sanki) (1900-1962)
Shayo (Shioe Shayoo) 潮江車要 Pupil of Matsuo Basho
Shiba Sonome 斯波園女 (1664-1726)
Shinohara Hosaku 篠原鳳作 Hoosaku (1905-1936)
Shoso Otsuni / Shoosoo Otsuni 松窓乙二 Iwama Otsuni 岩間乙二. (1756 - 1823)
Shushiki (Shuushiki 秋色) (1668-1725). Ume Shuushiki (or O-aki or Ogawa Shushiki)
Her Husband is Kangyoku.
Sugita Hisajo (1890-1946)
Suzuki Masajo (1906-2003)
Suzuki Shizuko 鈴木しづ子 (1919 - ?)
Tachibana Hokushi (1665-1718)
Tagami Kikusha (1753-1826)
Takaha Shugyo 鷹羽狩行 Takaha Shugyoo (1930, October 5 - )
Takahama Kyoshi (1874 - 1959)
Takano Sujuu (Takano Suju) (1893 - 1976)
Takaya Soshu 高屋窓秋 Takaya Sooshuu (1910-1999)
Takebe Socho 建部巣兆 Takebe Soochoo (1761-1814)
Takiguchi Susumu 滝口進 World Haiku Club, World Haiku Review
Tan Taigi (1709 -1771)
Taneda Santoka (1882-1940) Santooka and Sake
Tomiyasu Fusei (Fuusei) (1885 - 1979)
Tsubouchi Nenten (1944 - )
Tsukushi Bansei 筑紫磐井
(1950, January 14 - )
Uchida Hyakken 内田百間 May 29, 1889 — April 20, 1971
Ueda Akinari (1734 - 1809)
Uejima Onitsura (1660-1738) Ueshima Onitsura
Usuda Aroo 臼田亜浪 (1879-1951) Aro Usuda
Yamaguchi Seishi （1901 - 1994）
Yamaguchi Seison (1892 - 1988)
Yamazaki Naoko 山崎 直子 (1970 - )
Yamazaki Sokan 山崎宗鑑 Yamazaki Sookan (1465 - 1553)
Yasuhara Teishitsu (1610-73)
.
i would recommend anything translated by Hiroaki Sato, Haruo Shirane, or Makoto Ueda.
Scott Watson's done some cool work with Santoka's oeuvre.
And *Essential Haiku*, edited by Robert Hass is a nice collection, easy to get, and affordable.
Scott Watson's Santoka and Shiki collections are sharp.
There's David G. Lanoue's Issa website: http://haikuguy.com/issa/ (http://haikuguy.com/issa/)
Also, a new collection called *Haiku Before Haiku* just came out translated by Steven Carter which is interesting, mostly for historical reasons.
Hi Andy,
There is a lot of good reference from Gabi san. Her blog is an excellent start and she is an excellent translator who has a passion for Japanese art and literature. (AND it's for free on the internet through her links). You may want to start a file or folder and collect the links an material. There is no restrictions on copy and paste for your own personal edification and she's very gracious about giving permission for being sited if used in a publication. If you want to support the many authors and scholars who have produced reputable books, Scott's recommendations are quite sound. Any of the books by William Higginson have references that are also worth exploring. Good luck and happy exploring!