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Haiku In The West
Despite the challenges of translating traditional Japanese haiku to English, the West has embraced this Japanese style of poetry ever since it was introduced to it. The simple yet powerful verses that make up haiku are appealing to Western cultures and there has been a major effort to adapt the techniques and concepts to produce English haiku. The majority of non-Japanese poets specializing in haiku are actually in English-speaking countries.
Introduction of Haiku in Western Cultures
Before haiku was introduced to the West, there was first an attempt to produce hokku during the early 20th Century. Japanese poet Yone Noguchi supported the English admiration and imitation of hokku. Around the same time, haiku was beginning to be introduced to the West such as in France by a writer named Paul-Louis Couchoud.
Other countries began accepting haiku in their poetic culture including Great Britain and the United States. Poets were inspired by the translations of notable translators such as R.H. Blyth and began producing haiku in English.
It was during the Beat Period in the US where original English haiku were being written by Beat generation writers such as Jack Kerouac and Richard Wright. This ultimately helped continue the spread and popularity of haiku in English and establish a haiku movement in the West. Despite the popularity of haiku in the West, there was a lack in true understanding of the principles and history of haiku in Japan at the time.
English-speaking scholars have made an effort to translate Japanese haiku and have been faced with great challenges due to language barriers. Similarly, English-speaking poets have had difficulty applying the same formal techniques from Japanese haiku to English haiku.
The work of haiku poets can be found in publications in both the US and other English-speaking countries. In 1968, the Haiku Society of America was established and the journal Frogpond was produced ten years later. The American Haiku Archives was founded in 1996 and continues to stand as the largest public archive of haiku poems and other related material in the West.
Translating from Japanese to English
A strong contrast exists between Japanese verses and English verses in haiku, which has made it difficult to translate Japanese haiku to the English language. Japanese verses are syllabic while English verses incorporate particular meters and often rhyme. The Japanese language contains far too many common word endings which make the idea of rhyming elementary.
The Japanese language allows more freedom and flexibility in terms of grammar where as English is too restrictive. The Japanese have been able to use minimal syllables to express plenty while English syllables are more loaded with information.
The Challenges of Haiku in English
Aside from translating Japanese haiku to read in English, the English-speaking writer must make structural decisions when writing original haiku as well. The majority of haiku in English are written on three lines where as Japanese haiku are on a single line.
Haiku in English must contain brevity and writers can choose to adhere to the standard 17 syllable rule or write powerful verses in fewer syllables. Other elements Western writers must consider are whether or not to incorporate Kigo and Kireji, use imagery from nature, grammar, and the relationship between haiku and Zen.
Despite the regional differences, the West has been greatly influenced by the Japanese haiku and has produced notable haiku poets who have had an impact on the poetry culture of the West.