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Mrs. Fuyuko Tomita is a tanka (Japanese poem) poet based in Amsterdam who has been writing for many years under the pen name Fuyuko Molenkamp. The Nichiran Net (formerly Nichiran Silvernet) theme poem ‘Ajisai no uta (The hortensias poem)’ was contributed by Fuyuko. In this video, she shares fascinating stories about her life and her creation of poetry.
‘Ajisai no uta (The hortensias poem)’
O hortensias
Who came all the way
Across the ocean,
keep blooming
shoulder to shoulder
| 1943 | Born in Tokyo, later raised in Aichi Prefecture |
| 1967 | Studied creative writing at the University of Iowa |
| 1968 | Worked at the United Nations Headquarters in New York |
| 1972 | Married Mr. Molenkamp and moved to the Netherlands |
| 1973年 | Gave birth to her son |
| 1976 | Gave birth to her daughter |
| 1977 | Began teaching at Amsterdam Supplementary School |
| 1985 | Received the Asahi Tanka Prize |
| 1987 | an NHK radio drama depicting her life was broadcast, and her first collection of poems and essays was published |
| 1992 | Received the Asahi Haiku Prize for the first time (also received in 2013 and 2014) |
| 1995 | Began teaching Japanese at Leiden University through the Dutch Ministry of Education’s Japan Study Program (continued for 12 years) |
| 2003 | Married H.J. Houthoff |
Here is the full version of the interview.
Gallery
Click to enlarge the photo.
With family. In front of the school where her father worked. When she was about 7 years old.
Graduation ceremony at Aichi Prefectural University. Fuyuko is in the front row, right.
Onboard a ship departing Yokohama Port for San Francisco.
At the University of Iowa.
In front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
In the office at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Amsterdam Japanese Supplementary School, learning presentation.
Making a book at home.
Asahi Shimbun interview article. 2000.
Wedding ceremony with Mr. Houthoff. 2003.
A painting drawn by Mr. Houthoff. It depicts a song about her feelings when she crossed the Pacific Ocean by ship.
A commemorative photo taken when I was invited by the University of Iowa to give a poetry reading, 51 years after graduating.
Various books by Fuyuko