In this week’s episode of “Beyond the Verse,” the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maiya kick off Season 3 with a special deep dive into Japanese poetry and the idea of national literature.

They trace the roots of Japanese verse from the ancient Man’yōshū to the masters of haiku—Bashō, Buson, and Issa. Along the way, they unpack how haiku developed from collaborative forms like renga, how it captures fleeting moments, and why it continues to speak across time. From frogs and still ponds to moon moths and melting snow, this episode explores how much can be said in just three lines.

Get access to exclusive haiku resources and our in-depth Haiku Course with a Poetry+ membership.

Tune in and Discover:

What makes haiku more than a 5-7-5 poem
Why Bashō’s “old pond” is still one of the most famous haiku ever written
How Buson brings a painter’s eye to his verse in “moon moth” and “blown from the west”
The tender, funny, and deeply human voice in Issa’s “the snow is melting”
What shapes a national literature—and how Japan’s poetic tradition stands apart

As always, for the ultimate poetry experience, join Poetry+ and explore all things poetry at PoemAnalysis.com.

Japanese Poetry: Delving into Haiku

Beyond the Verse