Haiku Westward: Poetics of English Translation in the Early 20th Century

Abstract

This paper traces the evolution of haiku translation poetics in the English-speaking world. Focusing on translations from the first half of the 20th century, it compares Asatatro Miyamori and Harold G. Henderson’s early adaptations, which emphasize formal and rhythmic alignment, with R. H. Blyth’s culturally grounded, Zen-oriented approach in HAIKU. Rather than a sharp break, these translations show continuity in negotiating Japanese aesthetics and English poetic expression. While emerging in the formative stage of haiku’s transmission to the West, these works laid a crucial foundation for later haiku scholarship, highlighting the genre’s capacity for cultural adaptation and renewal.