The Narrow Road to Oku: Matsuo Basho's Journey through Tohoku

Overview

"The Narrow Road to Oku" is a travelogue by poet Matsuo Basho, who visited the region of Tohoku, known in those days as Oku, some 300 years ago. The travelogue contains many poems in a style known as haiku, which are always composed of 5, 7 and then 5 syllables. Today, people also enjoy creating haiku in the English-speaking world. Basho holds an undisputed position as Japan's greatest poet, but travel was another of his true passions. Our journey begins from the Shirakawa Barrier in Fukushima Prefecture.