I have heard so much about haiku, I have read few once in a while. First of all a little introduction to Haiku. Haiku is a form of poetry that focuses on a brief moment in time, and a sense of sudden illumination or enlightenment. It is usually composed of 17 syllables in three short lines with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.Haiku – seventeen-syllable poems that evoke worlds despite their brevity – have captivated Japanese readers since the seventeenth century.


Today the form is practiced worldwide and has become established as part of our common global heritage. Now this book presents modern English translations of classic poems by the four great masters of Japanese haiku – Matsuo Basho, Yosa Buson, Kobayashi Issa, and Masaoka Shiki – accompanied by both the original Japanese and a phonetic transcription, and a photograph or artwork highlighting or echoing the poem's theme.

This book is a treat to the eyes. The illustrations are beautiful. The Haiku short but has impact a regular reader of poetry can understand. Even then something felt of about translation. I can not pinpoint it but it was like these were not translated to their full potential.

Overall I enjoyed reading it and will recommend to those who enjoy poetry.

Thanks you amber books and Netgalley for ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Rating : 3.5 stars

This was the most pleasant read. I have always loved haikus and got to learn a bit about the history and its format. Each poem was beautifully illustrated.

This pocket edition is a lovely book which concisely details the evolution of the haiku form through the ages. The book presents an evocative collection of translated haikus together with beautiful matching illustrations and also their original Japanese writing.

Haiku by translator Hart Larrabee ticked ALL my boxes.
A huge thankyou to NetGalley and Amber Books for the chance to read and review this beautiful collection of poems by Basho, Buson, Issa and Shiki.

Each poem is a double page spread with a stunning illustration on one side, while the other side has the original kanji with furigana hints down the right-hand side of the page, plus a rōmaji text follwed by the English translation by Larrabee. The ebook version was just lovely; I can only imagine how gorgeous the print version will be.

Highly recommended for fans of Haiku or all things Japanese. A lovely gift book.

This delightful Pocket Edition illustrated anthology of Haiku follows on from the original book, released earlier in 2024, bound and presented in the traditional Japanese style.
Hart Larrabee has taken four masters of the art of Haiku poetry, translated their works and presented them in a beautiful format once again, allowing the spare, elegant words to be able to be read anywhere, anytime.
This formal style of Japanese poetry goes back to Renga, which dates back to the medieval period (1185-1600) and was a form of Court poetry. Settled times allowed a lighter form of the poetry to emerge known as Haikai which was able to be enjoyed by people of all walks of life.
Hokku was the next style to be developed which has slowly ebbed into the modern world as a form of poetry, Haiku, that is written and enjoyed by many, but a form of poetry that must still adhere to the traditional format, that of no more than seventeen words, set out in the 5-7-5 pattern.
Each of the chosen Masters, Matsuo Basho (1644-1690, Yosa Busin (1716-1784)0, Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) and Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902), works have been carefully selected to bring into the world of today the ever changing landscape of poetry.
Their words are presented in Japanese then translated to English, the traditional characters lining the e edge the page. Elegant pictures and sketches add an additional layer of beauty to the carefully chosen words to make the Pocket Edition of Haiku one of charm and grace.

"Haiku" the pocket edition has a nice font and some beautiful pictures inside. It made me realize that Haiku are really great for people learning Japanese (to practice reading). I think it would even encourage people to learn the language as meaning can get lost in translation.

Love this haiku book. Not only does his translations of the haikus of the masters, it has thre original Japanese haiku too, which I am always curious about when I come across a haiku. I am on a journey of learning Japanese to understand haiku better. If I saw this book last year, I wouldnt be able to understand the furigana. I have learned hiragana and am on the way of learning Kanji. But with this year's work, I am able to read Kanji when furigana is available. With all that said, Japanese script shines in all its red glory. Very thankful to the translator and publishers for keeping thr original along with the translation that sustains the interst of readers and their interest in different languages.

This is a beautiful little book where each double page has the haiku as well as an accompanying image. Each Haiku is well laid out with the original Japanese, the furigana for each of the kanji, a transliteration and a translation. Therefore, wherever you’re at in learning Japanese, you’ll gain sometime from reading it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This looks like a beautiful book, filled with art and calligraphy. However, the translations and the history are inaccurate or oversimplified, and the translations struggle as poems. Larrabee simply doesn't seem to have the literary skills or understanding of haiku to translate these deceptively simple poems.

My pupils often struggle with poetry but this collection will inspire them I am sure! I cannot wait to present this to them!

Haiku is a great book that can introduce anyone to the classics of haiku. Not only are the poems thought-provoking and deeply rooted in what's all around us, but it also provides a deeper way into the origins of the poem by providing each poem in its original language along with the English translation. I also enjoy immersing myself in the corresponding pictures and paintings before reading each piece. It is a delight for haiku and poetry enthusiasts.

An excellent compilation of haikus with some nice introductory information and beautiful layouts. I really enjoyed this and could definitely see having this out on my "enrichment options" table during my unit on Japanese history.

i really enjoyed this book of haiku as it also had such beautiful illustrations! i only wish the anthology could have included more poems hehe

Fue interesante leerlo. Conocía los haikus por una clase que tuve,pero el formato del libro, poniendo la traducción, la pronunciación y el poema original fue una linda experiencia de lectura

This book of haiku translated by hart Larrabee showcases some famous old haiku authors. The writing was exquisite, perfect haiku, while the art was amazing, along with beautiful photography

Recently, I had the privilege of reading Haiku. I was captivated by the symbols, language, and English translation on each page. I enjoyed the seamless blend of all cultures to enjoy each haiku. The illustrations adequately highlighted the point of each haiku shared. I also enjoyed learning about the history of haikus, which helped me appreciate the depth of haikus in their original form. This entire book is a true work of art for both language and art lovers. This book is a truly visual and poetic journey, which I am glad that I took.

Such beautiful poems. Vivid imagery with every verse. The illustrations are superb. Highly recommend.

I recently came across this book that I just had to share.

It's a modern translation of classic haiku poems by four great masters, complete with the original Japanese and phonetic transcription. The stunning artwork and photography accompanying each entry adds an extra dimension to the experience.

What I found particularly amazing was the brief history of the original masters and the explanations of certain words, which made it easier to understand and truly enhanced my enjoyment. The only thing I wished for was a clearer separation between the poets. Other than that, this book is absolutely fabulous.
I highly recommend it to anyone with an appreciation for poetry and art.

If you are fan of Haiku and Japanese, I highly recommend this book.
Its presentation, the inclusion of the Japanese originals of the haiku all match with the philosophy behind haiku so well.