Nara · Yamanobe Road
Man’yōshū Poetry Monuments, Sakurai
Twenty-six Man’yōshū poetry monuments along the ancient Yamanobe Road, with English translations and notes by Peter MacMillan.
The Man’yōshū
The Man’yōshū
A complete English translation of Japan’s oldest poetry anthology — and a journey to the places and poetry monuments where its poems were composed.
The Man’yōshū is Japan’s oldest anthology of poetry, gathering the voices of everyone from emperors to nameless frontier guards. Peter MacMillan is at work on the first complete English translation of the entire collection.
These poems belong to the places where they were composed. Peter’s translations now accompany Man’yōshū poetry monuments and regional "poetry journey" guides across Japan, carrying the memory of language and landscape into the future. Below are some of those monuments and resources.
Poetry Monuments & Guides
Poetry Monuments & Guides
Nara · Kasugano
Man’yō Botanical Garden, Kasuga Taisha
The oldest Man’yō botanical garden in Japan, planting some 300 species of the plants sung of in the Man’yōshū.
Toyama · Takaoka
Man’yō Poetry Monument Project
A project mapping Man’yōshū poetry monuments and the places they name across Japan, featuring Peter MacMillan’s English translations.
Fukuoka · Tsukushi
Man’yō Poetry Monuments of Tsukushi, FukuokaPDF
A guide to the Man’yōshū poetry monuments of Fukuoka. Supervised by Makoto Ueno; English translations by Peter MacMillan.
Each link opens an external site run by the relevant local government or organization.
More resources will be added over time.
Support Our Work
Carrying this work into the future.
The English translation of the Man’yōshū and the poetry-monument journey continue thanks to the understanding and support of many people.