# Ogiwara Seisensui

Ogiwara Seisensui (荻原 井泉水, 16 June 1884 – 11 May 1976) was the pen-name of Ogiwara Tōkichi (荻原 藤吉), a Japanese haiku poet active during the Taishō and Shōwa periods of Japan.

## Early life

Ogiwara Tōkichi was born in Shinmei, Shiba, Tokyo City (present-day Hamamatsu, Minato, Tokyo), the second son of a merchant who owned a general goods store called Nitta-ya. The Ogiwara family was originally from Takada, Echigo Province (present-day Jōetsu, Niigata), and his grandfather Tōkichi had moved to Edo as a young man. Both of his siblings died in infancy. Although he attended Seisoku Junior High School, Ogiwara was expelled after publishing a student newspaper criticizing the school's educational methods and administration. After entering Azabu Junior High School, he quit drinking and smoking, seriously engaged in studying, and gained admission to Tokyo Imperial University. While a student majoring in linguistics, he became interested in writing haiku.

## Literary career

Seisensui co-founded the avant-garde literary magazine Sōun ("Layered Clouds") in 1911, together with fellow haiku poet Kawahigashi Hekigoto. Ogiwawa was a strong proponent of abandoning haiku traditions, especially the "season words" so favored by Takahama Kyoshi, and even the 5-7-5 syllable norms. In his Haiku teisho (1917), he broke with Hekigoto and shocked the haiku world by advocating further that haiku be transformed into free verse. His students included Ozaki Hōsai and Taneda Santōka. His role in promoting the format of free-style haiku has been compared with that of Masaoka Shiki for traditional verse, with the contrast that Seisensui had both vigorous health, and considerable wealth. He also was able to use new media to promote his style, including lectures and literary criticism on national radio.
Seisensui left more than 200 works, including collections of haiku, essays, and travelogues. His principal anthologies are Wakiizuru mono (1920) and Choryu (1964). He also wrote a number of commentaries on the works of Matsuo Bashō.
In 1965, he became a member of the Japan Art Academy.

## Private life

Seisensui's wife and daughter perished in the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923, and his mother died the same year. He moved to Kyoto briefly, and lived for a while at a chapel within the Buddhist temple of Tofuku-ji. He also began a period of travel around the country. He remarried in 1929, and relocated to Kamakura, Kanagawa. He moved to Azabu in Tokyo until his house was destroyed during World War II. He then moved back to Kamakura in 1944, where he lived until his death.

## Work
### collection of sentences

* "Nature’s Door" Volume 1 Strauss Cloud Collection, Toundo Shoten, 1914
* Edited by Nichizo Gendaisha, 1916
* Kusakami Myoju haiku collection 2nd Iizumi haiku collection 2nd, edited by Gendai Broadcasting Company, 1918
* "Tree of Life" Sounsha, 1918
* "What springs forth" (Isen haiku collection, Volume 1) (1920)
* Scenery Heart Sutra Soun 4th Poetry Collection Sounsha, 1922
* Out in the field Poetry collection Sounsha, 1923
* "Wandering" (Haiku Collection Volume 2) Jueikaku (1924)
* Digging the Spring, Soun 5th Haiku Collection, Sounsha, 1925
* Isensui Haiku Collection Kinseido 1925
* After the Fire, Soun 6th haiku collection, Sounsha, 1927
* "Everyone's Confession" (Iizumi Haiku Collection Volume 3) Shunjusha (1928)
* Shihinoha Collection, Haiku Study Volume 1, Sounsha 1929
* Short Ritual Period Soun Seventh Poetry Collection Sounsha 1929
* Showa songs Soun haiku collection No. 8 Sounsha, 1931
* "Bonko Gyōhin" (Iizumi Haiku Collection Volume 4)
* Yukemuri Collection 28 Haiku Studies Sounsha 1932
* Isen haiku collection No. 4 Sounsha 1932
* One person, one boundary Soun haiku collection No. 9 Sounsha 1933
* Isensui Haiku Collection Ogiwara Seibunkan 1934
* The Tenth Ox Soun Haiku Collection. No. 10 Sounsha 1935
* "Mushozai" (Iizumi Haiku Collection Volume 5) Mikasa Shobo (1935)
* Visiting poems written by Oizumien 1938.12
* "Sea Sound" Ichijo Shobo 1943
* "Ichifuji" Sakurai Shoten (1943)
* "Senriyuki Self-Selected Haiku Collection Kobunsha 1946
"Kanasako" Meguro Shoten (1946)
* "Hara Izumi Izumi haiku collection Sounsha (selected haiku collection from 1919 to 1945)" (1960)
* "Nagaryu Nagaryu Iizumi Suikusho, Izumi Sensei's Birthday Celebration (Selected poems from 1945 to 1945) (1964)
*Oe Iizumi haiku collection Yayoi Shobo 1971
* Isensui Ogiwara, Kazuyuki Fujimoto (editors), Kagyusha, June 1992 (Kagyu Haiku Bunko)
* "Soun 1st and 2nd haiku collection: Nature's door/tree of life" Seihosha 2016.11

### Comments and essays

* Haiku proposal Sounsha, 1917
* Haiku composition question and answer Gendai Hobosha, 1918
* Haiku Kaidan Gendai Hobosha, 1918
* Haiku Short History Gendai Hobosha, 1919
* Kusaku Kaikyo Gendai Hobosha, 1920
* Haiku selection and review, Gendai Hobosha, 1920
* See the new haiku, Sounsha, 1920
* Komyo Samadhi Sounsha, 1920
* How to make a new haiku, Nippon Hyoronsha Publishing Department, 1921
* For new haiku writers Nippon Hyoronsha Publishing Department, 1921
* Ten years of Haikai circles, Konishi Shoten, 1922
* New Haiku Commentary Konishi Shoten, 1922
* New haiku proposed by Tenyusha, 1922
* Traveler Basho Shunjusha, 1923
* New stories of haiku spoken in the shade of green, Nippon Hyoronsha Publishing Department, 1923
* Tic Tac Diary Cool and Haimi Nihon Shoin, 1923
* From my little spring Kyoransha 1924
* Basho's View of Nature Shunjusha 1924 Later paperback
* While waiting for the rising sun Jueikaku 1924
* Preaching the ancients Jueikaku 1924
* Lamenting to the Earth Collection of Haiku Essays Shinsakusha 1924
* Lonely Jueikaku 1925
* Traveler Basho Continued Shunjusha 1925
* Basho and Issa Shunjusha 1925 Later Bunko, Gendai Kyoiyo Bunko
* Isen Haiwa, 4 volumes, Sounsha/Shunjusha 1921–29
* Impressions of the trip Cool taste Haimi Nihon Shoin 1926
* New Haiku Research Shunjusha 1926
* How to make and enjoy haiku Jitsugyo no Nihonsha 1927
* Kyo Raku Shohin Sogensha 1929
* Kannon Pilgrimage Shunyodo 1929
* Journey after another journey Shunyodo 1929
* Haiku Hobby Theory Shunju Bunko 1929
* Yukizumi Yamakawa Sogensha 1930
* Travel Teaser Sogensha 1930
* Higurashi Collection Sounsha 1930
* Inquiry about the narrow path in the back, Shunyodo 1930
* Theory of Haidan Trends Shunju Bunko 1930
* Basho Landscape Shunjusha 1930
* New Haiku Roundtable Shunjusha 1931
* First Door Sounsha 1931
* Introduction to Basho Shunyodo 1931
* The Way of Haiku Ritsumeikan Publishing Department 1932 Gendai Kyoiku Bunko 1953
* One Day's Smile Shijo Shobo 1933
* Travel Stories Shijo Shobo 1933
* Second Door Sounsha 1933
* Basho-sama Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha 1933
* Humanism and haiku writing Sounsha 1933 (New Haiku introductory pamphlet)
* "Oku no Hosomichi" popular theory Shunju Bunko 1933
* Issa Misaki Ohata Shoten 1934
* Shunju Soshi Iwanami Shoten 1934
* Seiten no Sho Buntaisha 1934
* Basho, Buson, Shiki Chikura Shobo 1934
* Talking about Broadcasting Basho Jitsugyo no Nihonsha 1934
* Inquiry about Basho Sogensha 1934
* Penro and Pilgrimage Sogensha 1934
* Go Like a Cloud Shimizu Shoten 1935
* Flowers and Birds Pieces Mikasa Shobo 1935
* Book under fire Okakura Shobo 1935
* Haidan Chikura Shobo 1935
* Sangiri Collection Sounsha 1935
* Selected Haiku Commentary Volume 6 Free Rhythm Haiku Commentary Hibonkaku 1935
* The path to haiku Shincho Bunko 1936
* New Haiku Appreciation Shunjusha 1936
* Book of Personal Affairs Buntaisha 1936
* Haiku Course Chikura Shobo 1936
* Ride a white horse 1936
* Introduction to free haiku Daito Publishing 1937
* Haiku's Hands from the Beginning to the Deep Tips Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha 1937
* Promenade Essay Collection Murasaki Publishing Department 1937 (Murasaki Academic Series)
* Tabimado Reader Gakugeisha 1937
* American News Kawade Shobo 1938
* Inquiry about Issa Ikuei Shoin 1938
* Issa Shunju Ikuei Shoin 1938
* Issa Research Shincho Bunko 1938
* Book of Chimei Sunakoya Shobo 1938
* Basho Reader Nippon Hyoronsha 1938
* The Heart of Oku no Hosomichi Broadcast Lecture Shinchosha 1938
* Self-portrait drawing, self-commentary, Kawade Shobo 1939
* Ogiwara Isensui Booklet Parts 1–6 Oizumien 1937–39
* Introduction to New Haiku Jitsugyo no Nihonsha 1940
* Issa Reading Book Nippon Hyoronsha 1940
* Haiku Heart Koshobobo 1941
* Basho's Heart Meguro Shoten 1941
* Pilgrimage diary Fujokaisha 1941
* My Neck Takayama Shoin 1941 (Takayama Series)
* Issa Monogatari Dowa Shunjusha 1942
* Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter Kuwana Bunseido 1942
* East, West, South, North, Sakurai Shoten 1942
* Zokonosho Tenyu Shobo 1942
* Tomorrow into the Evening Basho Essays Kaiseisha 1943
* Isensui Essays Jitsugyo no Nihonsha 1943
* Resurrection of the Dead Face Essay Collection Itto Shobo 1946
* Kyorai Mukai Seikatsusha 1946 (Japanese Series)
* Aoba Wakaba Sekaisha 1946
* Kyoto Raku Shunju Usui Shobo 1946
* Spring Revival Sakura Shobo 1946 (Quarterly "Oizumi" No. 1)
* America Kigyouji Shobo 1947
* Issa Essays Manshorin 1947
* Akiharu Fukoku Publishing 1947
* No sesame soba Sounsha 1948
* Spring is an essay by Akebono Basho, Usui Shobo, 1948
* Persimmon and Peach Essay Collection Yashiro Shoten 1948
* Ayu Meguro Shoten 1949
* Appreciation of Basho's Famous Poems Meguro Shoten 1949
* Shiki Masaoka Father of Unconscious Art Kaiseisha 1953 (Great People's Story Bunko)
* Haiku Guide Original Company 1954 (Folk Culture Shinsho)
* Nippon Koichi Nippon Shuppan Kyodo 1954
* Noppeijiru Ikeda Shoten 1955
* Running Water Essay Collection Ikeda Shoten 1955
* Oku no Hosomichi Note Shinchosha 1955 (One hour Bunko), Shincho Bunko 1956 Later revised edition
* Essays by Basho, 8 volumes, Shunjusha, 1955–56
* Kenchinjiru Isensui Essay Shinsei Shobo 1956
* Essay Issa 6 volumes Shunjusha 1956–57
* Issa Masterpiece Story Dowa Shunjusha 1957 (Japanese Masterpiece Story)
* Famous poems by Basho, Social Thought Research Group Publishing Department, 1957 (Gendai Kyoiku Bunko)
* Shinsetsu Shiroku Shunjusha 1958
* Issa's famous poems Social Thought Research Group Publishing Department 1959 (Gendai Kyoiku Bunko)
* Japan Saiji Travelogue Shuusha 1960
* Creation: Oragaharu Shinchosha 1960
* Life is long Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha 1961
* Oku no Hosomichi Scenery Social Thought Research Group Publishing Department 1961 (Gendai Liberal Arts Bunko)
* Life Reader Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha 1962
* Life is fun Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha 1962
* Novel Basho Diary Asahi Shimbun 1964
* Bashō Basho Shunju Toyoshobo 1970
* Twenty-four views of the narrow road to the back of the mountain, Toyoshobo 1971
* Poetry and Life Chobunsha 1972
* Traveler Bashosho Yutaka Shobo 1972
* Natural Self-Freedom Keiso Shobo 1972
* Soga Collection Nippon Shuppansha 1973
* Ekiken Yojokun Shinsetsu Dahorinkaku 1975
* Isensui Tanzaku Collection Satsuki Shobo 1975
* Shikai Bunka Hyoron Publishing 1976
* Daiho Rinkaku 1976
* Human Good Times Posthumous manuscript Furukawa Shobo 1977.12
* Sixty years of this path Shunyodo Shoten 1978.5
* Essays of Zuio Furukawa Shobo 1981.8
* Words of Isensui, Sounsha 1990.1 (Sound Series, edited by Kodama Ishisui)
* A Man Called Hoya Daihorinkaku 1991.4
* Issa Essays Kodansha Literature Bunko 2000.3
* "Isensui Diary Youth Edition" (top and bottom) Chikuma Shobo 2003

### other

* City Trees Art Book Sounsha, 1919
* Basho Bunko Edited Notes Volumes 2–8 Shunyodo, 1922–24
* Basho Haiku Complete Record, Shueikaku, 1922
* Oragaharu/Gaharu Collection / Issa Iwanami Bunko 1927
* Haijin Reader (ed.) Shunjusha 1931–32
* My father's death diary Issa's posthumous manuscript/ Kobayashi Issa Iwanami Bunko 1934
* New Issa Haiku Collection Iwanami Bunko 1935
* Free Rhythm Haiku Collection 1940 (Kaidosha) *Co-selected with Nakatsuka Ippekiro
* Suigo and Boso (eds.) Hobunkan 1959 (Japanese Fudoki)
* Talk about Santouka: Getting tipsy, co-edited by Kango Ito 1972
* Introduction to short poems, co-authored by Kenzo Hashimoto, Chobunsha, 1973

### translate

* Goethe's Sayings Seikyosha 1910

### school song

* Hokkaido Iwanai Town Tateiwanai Nishi Elementary School school song (1951) Dan Ikuma
* Tokyo Niijima Village Tate Niijima Elementary School school song (1951) Dan Ikuma
* Toyama Prefecture Toyama City Tategofuku Elementary School school song (1955) Dan Ikuma
* Toyama Prefecture Namekawa City Rippoku Kasumi Elementary School School Song Dan Ikuma
* Aichi Prefecture Nagoya City Atsuta High School School Song (1955) Dan Ikuma
* Ikuma Dan, Toyomasa Junior High School, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
* Shizuoka Prefecture Izu City Tachitoi Junior High School school song