About this work
A tanka repeatedly asks why one eats, writes, lives and dies, leaving the questions open. A separately published tanka source from the former website. Its original introduction, poem, readings and signature are preserved. This English version is an editorial translation for access; the Japanese text remains available alongside it for comparison.
Parallel reading
日本語と英語で読む
Read the Japanese original and its English translation together. On smaller screens, each language follows in sequence.
日本語原文 Japanese original
何故に喰らひて書くや何故に生きて何故死して何故
葉山 成秋
English translation 英訳
AI-assisted English translation. The Japanese original remains authoritative.
On the unfathomable mystery of one’s own life:
Why do I eat and write? Why live?
Why die? Why?
Seishu Hamano, Hayama
Original wording, author credits, notes and source materials are preserved there.