Prominent Japanese Tanka Poet Hirohiko Okano Dies at 101

Hirohiko Okano, a prominent Japanese tanka poet, died on April 24, 2026, at the age of 101, Japan Times reported. Born in Mie Prefecture in 1924, Okano studied under folklorist and poet Shinobu Orikuchi at Kokugakuin University. He later joined the Torifunesha tanka society, marking the start of his deep involvement in the traditional Japanese poetry form.

In 1968, Okano won an award from the Kajins Association for his first book of poems. He went on to give tanka writing guidance to Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, while serving as an adviser to the Imperial Household Agency. Okano served as a selector of poems for the Utakai Hajime, the annual New Year's poetry-reading ceremony at the Imperial Palace, from 1979 to 2008.

This role highlighted his influence in preserving and promoting tanka within Japan's imperial traditions. Academically, Okano held positions as a professor at Kokugakuin University and as president of Kokugakuin Tochigi Junior College. These roles allowed him to mentor new generations of poets and scholars in folklore and literature.

Among his notable works, Okano's tanka collection 'Soroka' won the Choku award for outstanding tanka. Another collection, 'Umi no Mahoroba,' received an art award from the Cultural Affairs Agency. Okano's 'Ame no Tazumura' was awarded the Yomiuri Prize for Literature, while 'Baghdad Moyu' earned him another award from the Kajins Association.

He also authored a biography of his mentor, Shinobu Orikuchi, contributing to the historical record of Japanese folklore studies. In recognition of his achievements, Okano received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1988, a Japanese honor for outstanding contributions in academia, sports, culture, and arts. He was chosen as a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1998.

Further honors followed, with Okano selected as a Person of Cultural Merit in 2013. In 2021, he received the Order of Culture, one of Japan's highest cultural accolades. Japan Times reported that Okano's death marks the end of an era for tanka poetry, given his extensive body of work and advisory roles in both academic and imperial circles.

His collections and biography continue to influence contemporary Japanese literature.