Cet auteur s'impose comme l'un des poètes contemporains les plus célèbres du Japon, également reconnu comme dramaturge, essayiste et traducteur. Son œuvre de jeunesse, apparue dans la vingtaine, fit sensation et fut saluée comme la naissance d'un style lyrique inédit. Depuis plus d'un demi-siècle, il façonne le paysage littéraire japonais et a reçu de nombreux prix prestigieux. Sa production prolifique englobe la poésie, le théâtre, les scénarios et de nombreuses traductions, faisant de lui une figure littéraire d'une exceptionnelle polyvalence.
Shuntaro Tanikawa has been the most inventive modern Japanese poet, ever since he published Alone in Two Billion Light Years (1952), his first book, aged twentyone. This new selection supplements his original Selected Poems published by Carcanet in 1998.
Shuntar Tanikawa, a prominent figure in contemporary Japanese poetry since his debut in 1952, is celebrated for his accessible and engaging verses that resonate widely across Japan. Beyond poetry, he has made significant contributions to literature through translations of works like Mother Goose and Charles Shultz's Peanuts, as well as innovative picture books. Additionally, he is known for writing the theme song for Astro Boy and has a reputation as a liberal poet, reflecting his political and social perspectives in his work.