SOURCE: "Miyazawa Kenji," in Modern Japanese Poets and the Nature of Literature, Stanford University Press, 1983, pp. 184-231.

In the following essay, Ueda studies Miyazawa's literary style, creative process, aesthetic theory, and poetic vision.

Secluded from the mainstream of modern Japanese verse, Miyazawa Kenji (1896-1933) was almost totally unknown as a poet during his lifetime. He published few poems in magazines of nationwide literary reputation, and for his one published book of poetry and single collection of children's stories he shouldered all publication costs himself. After his death, however, his works soon gained a large following of people from all walks of life. Six different periodicals have been founded by different groups exclusively to study his works. Although literary critics still find it difficult to place him in the history of modern Japanese poetry, his faithful readers could not care less, nor could his posthumous publishers. Five different editions...