Haiku of Kobayashi Issa

mostly haiku-related books

by David G. Lanoue


Haiku Guy Omnibus cover

Haiku Guy Omnibus An omnibus edition of five short novels about the art of haiku featuring Cup-of-Tea, a fictionalized Issa: Haiku Guy, Laughing Buddha, Haiku Wars, Frog Poet, and Dewdrop World.

Available in paperback ($19.99) and as an e-book ($9.99).

My Journal with Haiku Sprinkled in cover

My Journal with Haiku Sprinkled in A creative imitation of Issa on the 200th anniversary of his great poetic journal, Oraga haru ("My Spring").

Available in paperback ($9.99) and as an e-book ($2.99).

Issa's Best cover

Issa's Best: A Translator's Selection of Master Haiku 1,210 great haiku by Issa in seasonal order—with an introduction to Issa's life and poetry.

Available in paperback ($9.99) and as an e-book ($2.99).

A Taste of Issa

A Taste of Issa: Haiku takes a deeper look at the 1,210 haiku presented in Issa's Best, including original Japanese texts and comment notes.

Available in paperback ($13.99) and as an e-book ($5.99).

Write like Issa cover

Write like Issa: a Haiku How-to offers lessons on how to write haiku based on examples from Issa and from 21st-century poets who are following his creative path.

Available in paperback ($9.99) and as an e-book ($2.99).

Issa and the Meaning of Animals cover

Issa and the Meaning of Animals: A Buddhist Poet's Perspective explores Issa's poetic vision of animals as fellow travelers in a shared world.

Available in paperback ($12.99) and as an e-book ($2.99).

Issa and the Meaning of Animals cover

Issa and Being Human: Haiku Portraits of Early Modern Japan explores Issa's poetic answer to the question, What does it mean to be "born human"?

Available in paperback ($9.99) and as an e-book ($2.99).

Pure Land Haiku cover

Pure Land Haiku: The Art of Priest Issa is the first book-length English language analysis of Issa's haiku in relation to the Buddhism that he studied and lived.

Available in paperback ($12.99) and as an e-book ($2.99).

Old Grandpa's Songbook Vol. 1 cover

Old Grandpa's Songbook, Vol. 1 Songs of Innocence isn't haiku-related but a lot of fun! Listen to samples here.

Available only in paperback ($13.98).

Old Grandpa's Songbook Vol. 2 cover

Old Grandpa's Songbook, Vol. 2 Love Songs is the second installment of what I hope will be a four-part series. It contains music and lyrics of 84 songs chronicling my rollercoaster love life, 1969-2023. Listen to samples here.

Available only in paperback ($12.99).

Issa

Issa