This book includes complete translations of the six works by Ryuichi Tamura listed above: four books and two long poems. Translations of individual poems by Tamura have appeared in anthologies and journals for a number of years, yet no translation of the complete volumes of poetry has been made. Our conviction is that the recurring images and thematic development within a book such as Four Thousand Days and Nights or The World Without Words expand the significance of the poems far beyond the effect of any single poem. We feel that a poet of Tamura's stature should be represented in the form and completeness that he originally conceived and compiled the poems into books. It is our hope that the presentation of these complete works of Ryuichi Tamura in English translations will serve as a first step in widening the international recognition of his work, a body of work which equals the importance of any major 20th century poet. He was thought of in Japan as deserving the Nobel Prize.

"The English speaking world is indebted to Samuel Grolmes and Tsumura Yumiko for having made the poetry of Tamura Ryuichi available to all of us. Beyond their impressive skills, their translations are enveloped with the sense of their respect and love for the poet, which makes their success hard to replicate."

Dezso Benedek, Translation Review