Karin Sosho Ougai no Iraka (Roof Tiles of Ougai Mori)

“Roof Tiles of Ougai Mori" is my 13th collection of poems. It contains 507 poems selected from a period of approximately four years, from spring 2021 to the new year of 2025.
 
Around the time this collection of poems began, I was appointed director of the university's library.
 
In March 2024, the professor I inherited the directorship from reached the retirement age of 65 and became a project professor (I have continued working in the library). Although I am still an active researcher, my main role is to support other people's research.
 
Just as I was approaching retirement age, I happened to have a CT scan in which I was diagnosed with lymphoma. It took me eight months to complete the treatment, with multiple hospitalizations and outpatient visits to the University of Tokyo Hospital. During this time, I managed to complete all my on- and off-campus work online from my hospital room, but I was forced to cancel several events, including lectures and tournament selections. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize. I have now fully recovered and am living a normal life.
 
I received the 60th Tanka-Kenkyu Award for my collection of poems, "Ogai Mori." As a result, my collection of poems was published by Tanka Kenkyu-sha co.,ltd.
 

(Written by SAKAI Shuicih, Project Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives / 2025)