A Poetic Glimpse into a Dark Era
World War II left an indelible mark on Japan, but few literary works capture the era’s raw human experience quite like The Kobe Hotel: Memoirs by Saitō Sanki. Thanks to translator Masaya Saito’s dedication, this haunting memoir has found new life in English, earning him the prestigious Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Translation Prize in 2024.
Sanki’s gripping account of wartime survival in a run-down Kobe hotel, filled with displaced souls from across the world, is both a historical artifact and a deeply personal reflection on human resilience. But who was Saitō Sanki, and why does his story still resonate today?
The Life of Saitō Sanki: A Poet Who Defied the Norms
Born in 1900 in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, Saitō Sanki—originally named Saitō Keichoku—was more than just a haiku poet; he was a fearless voice in Japan’s literary world. Before embracing poetry, he worked as a dentist, practicing in both Singapore and Tokyo.
Sanki was a leading figure in the New Rising Haiku movement, which pushed the boundaries of traditional Japanese poetry. His work was bold, politically charged, and often clashed with the rigid norms of wartime Japan. In 1940, this defiance led to his arrest under the Peace Preservation Law, a measure used to silence dissenting voices.
Upon his release, the government forbade him from writing. In 1942, he left Tokyo and took refuge in Kobe—a decision that would shape his most profound literary work.
Life in Kobe: A Hotel of Strangers and Survivors
Kobe during World War II was a city in turmoil. Forced to abandon his career and poetry, Sanki took residence in a dilapidated hotel, home to a mosaic of marginalized people—White Russians, Egyptians, Tartars, Koreans, Taiwanese, and countless Japanese bar hostesses.
With war looming and destruction imminent, these individuals clung to survival, forming a strange and fragile community. Sanki, ever the keen observer, chronicled their daily struggles with piercing clarity, giving voice to those history often forgets.
These experiences were first serialized in haiku journals in the 1950s, later compiled into two prose works: Kōbe and Zoku Kōbe (Kobe Sequel). In 1975, the memoirs were published together, with novelist Itsuki Hiroyuki praising them as some of the most important literature of the Shōwa era.
Masaya Saito: The Translator Who Brought Sanki’s Words to the World
Masaya Saito’s passion for Japanese literature is evident in his work. His first translation of Sanki’s memoirs was published in 1993 as The Kobe Hotel. But in 2023, Saito revisited his work, releasing a newly revised edition, The Kobe Hotel: Memoirs, with an expanded introduction and deeper insights.
This latest version was widely acclaimed, with critics praising its ability to capture Sanki’s poetic yet unflinching narrative in English. Alongside this translation, Saito has also worked on Selected Haiku 1933–1962, a collection of Sanki’s haiku, further cementing his role in bringing Japanese avant-garde poetry to an international audience.
His work was rewarded when he won the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Translation Prize, administered by the Society of Authors, recognizing excellence in translating Japanese literature into English.
Why The Kobe Hotel Still Matters Today
While The Kobe Hotel is set in wartime Japan, its themes of displacement, survival, and resilience remain universally relevant. It provides a window into a period of history that is often overshadowed by grand military narratives, offering instead a deeply personal look at the human cost of war.
In a world where refugees, migration, and social displacement continue to be pressing global issues, Sanki’s memoir speaks to the timeless struggles of those who find themselves caught in forces beyond their control.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was Saitō Sanki?
Saitō Sanki (1900–1962) was a Japanese haiku poet and a key figure in the New Rising Haiku movement. His work often defied tradition, incorporating themes of war, oppression, and personal struggle.
2. Why was Saitō Sanki arrested?
In 1940, he was arrested by Japan’s Special Higher Police under the Peace Preservation Law, which aimed to suppress political dissent. He was later banned from writing.
3. What is The Kobe Hotel: Memoirs about?
It is a prose memoir based on Sanki’s experiences living in a rundown hotel in Kobe during World War II, capturing the struggles of its diverse and marginalized residents.
4. Who is Masaya Saito?
Masaya Saito is a translator and haiku poet, best known for his English translations of Saitō Sanki’s works. His recent translation of The Kobe Hotel: Memoirs won the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Translation Prize.
5. Where can I read The Kobe Hotel: Memoirs?
The latest edition of The Kobe Hotel: Memoirs is available through major bookstores and online retailers specializing in translated Japanese literature.
Saitō Sanki’s The Kobe Hotel is not just a memoir; it’s a literary time capsule, preserving the voices of those who endured one of Japan’s darkest periods. Thanks to Masaya Saito’s expert translation, these voices can now reach a global audience, ensuring their stories are never forgotten.
Sources Nippon
