Poet Profile

Eiko Yachimoto

Studied Russian in Sophia University in Tokyo.  Majored in English language and literature in University of Minnesota. Worked as translator/teacher/writer. Translated haiku of Socho(an important painter-haijin in Edo period, and Chiyojo (also known as Chiyo-ni) for museums. Co-translated some of Basho's renku. A long-time member of AIR (Association for International Renku). A current member of Basho Conference in Tokyo. Editor of two AIR anthologies, Wind Arrow, published in November 1999 and in November 2010.

Awards and Other Honors: Some of Eiko's awards and other others include: Chosen in Haiku Contest, World Haiku Review (2001); Chosen in Haiku Contest in Yokohama City (2001); Honorable Mention, Bruce Ross Short Haibun Contest (2003); Honorable Mention, Haiku Calendar (June, 2004); Honorable Mention, Aichi Expo Haiku contest (2005).

tulips in the rain—
the policeman walks back
to his patrol car

September the first—
the first bud
of an elephant-ear begonia

sound of summer tide
and this decaying house
of an admiral

green shape
of the sea-scented wind
rosemary

gathering wild things
the sea turns bluer—
switch of the wardrobe

let me sleep   with no tent
may billion light years    envelop me

Credits: "tulips in the rain" - Honorable Mention, Aichi Expo Haiku contest (2005); "sound of summer tide" - Chosen in Haiku Contest, World Haiku Review (2001); "gathering wild things" - Honorable Mention, Haiku Calendar (June, 2004); "September the first" - Chosen in Haiku Contest in Yokohama City (2001); "green shape" - Chosen as hokku in international renku session; "let me sleep" - Honorable Mention, Bruce Ross Short Haibun Contest (2003).