Inventory of the Tanka Collection of Matsue Hisashi SPC.2023.005
Yoko Okunishi
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2023
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
Business Number: 310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Hisashi Matsue Tanka Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2023.005
Physical Description:
3 boxes
(1.25 linear feet)
Physical Description:
1.25 Linear Feet
(3 document boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1979-2023
Abstract: This collection comprises tanka poems authored by Hisashi Matsue, who is a master of tanka poetry, an instructor for the California
Tankakai in Los Angeles, California, which mainly consists of the Japanese and Japanese American poets in Los Angeles, and
the editor for their periodical magazine. Included are a complete set of the California Tankakai's magazine, "California Tanka,"
published quarterly (1979-2021) and semiannually (2022-present) since 1979, a set of special issues published every few years
since 1981, and his anthologies of tanka poetry. There is also an anthology by Aiko Kadowaki.
Language of Material:
Japanese
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Gerth Archives and Special Collections acquired the collection through gift in 2022 from Hisashi Matsue.
松江久志 Matsue, Hisashi: Hisashi Matsue (松江久志), his real name is Hisashi Iwami (岩見恒), is a Japanese immigrant in Los Angeles,
California. He is a master of tanka poetry, promoting the literary activities and shaping the artistry of the tanka poets
in California. He was born in 1939 in Matsue, Shimane, Japan. He attended the Shimane University and earned his bachelor's
degree in horticultural science. In 1961, he came to the United States for a study-abroad program, attended Cal Poly Pomona,
and earned a degree in Parks Administration. After graduation, he married Junko Kadowaki who is a tanka poet and whose mother
is also a Kibei Nisei tanka poet. He was also a teacher at Japanese language schools in Los Angeles and served as the principal
for the San Fernando Valley Japanese Language School and an ex-officio member for the Southern California Japanese Language
School Unified System.
Hisashi was influenced by his father who was also a poet in Japan and started writing tanka poems when he was in high school.
He has been devoted to tanka poetry and his works are well recognized. Serenity and beauty of nature are often themes in his
poetry as he is well versed in the subject. He is a member of "Nihon Kajin Club" or "The Japan Tanka Poets' Society," which
is the largest and most prestigious tanka organization in Japan, and was a member of "Nanka Bungei," which had lasted longest
in the United States and been initiated by the former members of tanka poetry groups formed in incarceration camps during
the war, such as "若人 Wakodo" in Gila River camp and "怒涛 Doto" and "鉄柵 Tessaku" in the Tule Lake Segregation Center. Hisashi
was also a founder of "セコイア短歌会 Sekoia Tankakai."
One of his fellow poets, Itoko Sonekawa, coordinated a group of Japanese and Japanese American tanka poets and invited him
as an instructor for them in 1978, and in 1979, the California Tankakai was formally established and has continued over 40
years.
門脇あい子 Kadowaki, Aiko, 1920-2019: Aiko Kadowaki was born to her Issei parents, Yoshishige and Ise Watanabe, in Tacoma, Washington
in 1920. While she was still an infant, she was taken to Yonago, Tottori, Japan and raised by her grandparents. Being separated
from her parents, she spent her childhood and completed school in Japan. When she was age 17, she returned to Seattle and
reunited with her parents and other siblings. As a result of the Executive Order 9066, the family was incarcerated in the
Pinedale Assembly Center and transferred to the Tule Lake Segregation Center. In the camp, Aiko met her future husband, Eiji
Kadowaki. Eiji had been incarcerated along with his father, Hidetaka, who died in February 1945 in the camp. Aiko and Eiji
married in October 1945 and the newlywed couple returned to Japan on December 25, 1945, where had been devastated by the bombing
attacks during the war. They resided in Yonago, Tottori, Japan for 17 years and had four children, including Junko Kadowaki
Iwami. The family returned to Los Angeles, California in 1963.
Aiko started writing tanka poems when she was age 19 and was a member of "華陽会 Kayokai" which was one of the tanka poetry groups
in Seattle, Washington where Japanese Issei and Kibei Nisei literary work thrived, and several literary groups had been established
since the early 1900s. Although their literary activities were interrupted by the war, the members played a significant role
to promote literary work among the incarcerees during the war. Her "短歌集シャスタの峰," or "An anthology of tanka poetry: Mount Shasta,"
contains her 1,540 works published in the tanka poetry publications in the past, including "華陽会 Kayokai" in Seattle between
1939-1941; "高原 Kogen" in the Tule Lake Segregation Center between 1942 and 1945; and "黎明 Reimei" and "California Tanka = カリフォルニア短歌;
加州短歌" in Los Angeles between 1968 and 2005.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
This collection was processed by Yoko Okunishi in 2023.
This collection comprises tanka poems (one of the Japanese poetry styles consisting of 31 syllables in five lines of 5, 7,
5, 7, and 7 syllables each) which were authored by Hisashi Matsue, who is a master of tanka poetry, an instructor for the
California Tankakai in Los Angeles, California which mainly consists of the Japanese and Japanese American poets in Los Angeles,
and the editor for their quarterly magazine. Included are a complete set of the California Tankakai's magazine published quarterly
(1979-2021) and semiannually (2022-present) since February 1979, a set of the special issues published every few years since
1981, his anthologies of tanka poetry, and an anthology of tanka poetry by Aiko Kadowaki. The member poets often write their
life experiences in poetry and their views for social issues and problems that they have experienced and witnessed are captured.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Waka
Japanese American poetry
Japanese Americans -- California, Southern
box 1, box 2
California tanka = カリフォルニア短歌; 短歌雑誌加州短歌 1979 February-2023 September
Physical Description: 2 boxes
Language of Material: Japanese.
A complete set of issues of a tanka poetry periodical which has been published quarterly (1979-2021) and semiannually (2022-present)
by カリフォルニア短歌会 = California Tankakai and edited by Hisashi Matsue since February 1979.
- California Tanka = カリフォルニア短歌 (1979-1981)
- California Tanka, U.S.A. = カリフォルニア短歌 (1982-1986 June)
- California Tanka, U.S.A. = 短歌雑誌加州短歌 (1986 September-1987 June)
- California Tanka, U.S.A.: a magazine of tanka poetry = 短歌雑誌加州短歌 (1987 September-1998 June)
- California Tanka: a magazine of tanka poetry = 短歌雑誌加州短歌 (1998 September-)
box 3
合同歌集カリフォルニア [= An anthology of collaborative tanka poetry: California] 1981-2018
Physical Description: 4 folders
Language of Material: Japanese.
A set of issues of "California" which is a periodical published by California Tankakai every few years. It is an anthology
of collaborative tanka poetry authored by the members of the California Tankakai and edited by Hisashi Matsue.
box 3
Tanka poetry publications by Hisashi Matsue and Aiko Kadowaki 1978-2018
Physical Description: 7 folders
Language of Material: Japanese.
A collection of tanka poetry publications authored by Hisashi Matsue. There are also a booklet documenting a history of the
California Tankakai written by Hisashi Matsue and a book, "短歌集シャスタの峰 [= An anthology of tanka poetry: Mount Shasta]" authored
by his mother-in-law, Aiko Kadowaki.
- カリフォルニア短歌会の歩み = History of California Tanka Kai
- アメリカ歌壇ノート歌集回顧
- アメリカ抒情派の会叢書: 句集海老篝
- アメリカ抒情派の会叢書: 松江久志の歌花暦
- アメリカ抒情派の会叢書: 歌集小世界
- アメリカ抒情派の会叢書: 歌集ロスアンゼルス
- アメリカ抒情派の会叢書: 歌集異國有情
- 松江久志作品集有夢未醒
- 松江久志作品集昨日・今日・明日
- 松江久志の植物短歌歳時記: 春の巻 花宇宙
- 短歌集シャスタの峰 [= An anthology of tanka poetry: Mount Shasta]