Kobayashi Issa was one of Japan's most prolific poets (learn more). He left in his journals over twenty thousand one-breath poems—then called haikai but today known as haiku. This website offers an archive of 9,400 of these haiku.
Search tips Delete the words "erase this; type keyword" in the box. To look for haiku containing a single keyword, type it into the box and hit "Search." To search for multiple keywords in a haiku, enter them in the box separated by commas and without spaces (example: frog,croaking). Note that searches are case-sensitive (type "Buddha", not "buddha"). Use the "Year" drop-down menu to limit your results to a particular year.
More search options available with the Advanced Search. Search for keywords in the English translation, the rômaji transcription, or in the comments.
Issa-a-Day Sign up to have one randomly selected haiku sent to your e-mail box daily, get inspired like subscribers Sakuo Nakamura and Naomi Beth Wakan. The Daily Issa world map lists the locations of many (but not nearly all!) subscribers.
Random haiku Don't have time to read 9,400 poems by Issa at this moment? How about just one?
Books about Issa Although my first book about Issa, Issa, Cup-of-Tea Poems (1991), is out of print, these two are available: The Distant Mountain: The Life and Haiku of Kobayashi Issa (2009) and Pure Land Haiku: The Art of Priest Issa (2004).
For young learners, see Haiku with Issa—an introduction to Issa's haiku and Japan.
Listen to Japanese Keiko Higuchi-Vayman reads 9 haiku by Issa.
Fun with Issa Pick a random number to get inspired!
Poets on Issa What do poets from around the world think of Issa and his contribution to the art of haiku? Find out.
About this website The Kobayashi Issa website was launched in May, 2000. It was created at Xavier University of Louisiana as a rich media project sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching.
A Japanese version of the website is available.
haiku linksTranslations based on Issa zenshû (Nagano: Shinano Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1976-79) 9 volumes. Some of the translations first appeared in Issa, Cup-of-Tea Poems, The Distant Mountain: The Life and Haiku of Kobayashi Issa and Pure Land Haiku: The Art of Priest Issa.