Takuboku Ishikawa (石川 啄木, Ishikawa Takuboku; Japanese pronunciation: [i.ɕi̥.ka.wa (|) ta.kɯ.bo.kɯ], February 20, 1886 – April 13, 1912) was a Japanese poet. Well known as both a tanka and "modern-style" (新体詩, shintaishi) or "free-style" (自由詩, jiyūshi) poet, he began as a member of the Myōjō group of naturalist poets but later joined the "socialistic" group of Japanese poets and renounced naturalism. He died of tuberculosis.
His major works were two volumes of tanka poems plus his diaries:
Ichiaku no Suna (一握の砂) (A Handful of Sand) 1910
Kanashiki gangu (悲しき玩具) (Sad Toys) published posthumously in 1912
Ishikawa wrote some of his diaries in a Latin script transliteration of Japanese so that his wife could not read them.
1886 - Born at Joko Temple, Hinoto-mura (presently named Hinoto, Tamayama-mura), Minami-Iwate-gun, Iwate Prefecture, to Ittei, the father, who was the priest of the temple, and Katsu, his mother.
1887 - Moved to Shibutami-mura (presently named Shibutami, Tamayama-mura)
1891 - Attended Shibutami Elementary School (4 years)
1895 - Attended Morioka Upper Elementary School (2 years)
1898 - Attended Morioka Middle School
1899 - Published a literary booklet "Choji-kai", printed by hand using a method called hectograph
1900 - Formed a self-study group, "Union Club", to learn English. First and second issues of "Choji Magazine" were published. Fell in love with Setsuko Horiai, a student at Morioka Girls’ Middle School.
1901 - Published the third issue of "Mikazuki" (Crescent Moon), a magazine for circulating, and the first issue of "Nigitama". His tankas appeared on Iwate Nippo (newspaper) under the pen name of "Suiko", the first public appearance of his works.
1902 - His tankas appeared in "Myōjō", a literary magazine, under the pen name of "Hakuhin". Dropped out of Morioka Middle School because of his aspiration for literature. Went to Tokyo and made the acquaintances of Tekkan and Akiko Yosano.
1903 - Went home to Shibutami. Serial articles "Ideas of Wagner" appeared in Iwate Nippo. Poem "Shucho" (Sorrowful Melodies) appeared in "Myōjō". The pen name of "Takuboku" was used for the first time. In November, he joined the circle of poets "Shinshisha".
1904 - Serial articles "Senun Yoroku" (Personal Memorandum of War Time) appeared in Iwate Nippo. This was right after the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War.
1905 - The first collection of poems "Akogare" (Admiration) was published by Odajima Shobo. Married Setsuko Horiai. Published the literary magazine "Sho-Tenchi" (Small World).
1906 - Became a substitute teacher at Shibutami Upper Elementary School. Wrote the novel "Kumo wa Tensai dearu" (The Clouds are Geniuses), which was never published during his lifetime. His novel "Soretsu" (Funeral Procession) appeared in the literary magazine "Myōjō" (December issue of 1906).