Ryoichi Wago

Poet. Born in Fukushima, Japan in 1968. Won the 4th Chuya Nakahara Prize for his first collection of poems, "AFTER" in 1998. Finalist for the Jun Takami Prize for his second collection, "RAINBOW." Finalist for both Gendai Shiika Tsubaki Prize and Bansui Prize for his second collection "Birth". Won the 47th Bansui Prize for his fourth collection "Earth Brain Psalms" in 2006. Introduced as leading young poet in the Nikkei Shinbun. Participated in the Kokonor Lake International Poetry Festival in China, 2007, as representative of Japan. The Toyonaka Chorale gave the first performance of "To Become the Cosmos"(music by Tokuhide Niimi/lyrics by Ryoichi Wago) at the Osaka Symphony Hall this past summer., to excellent reviews. Lyricist, lecturer, radio personality. Currently teaches at the Asahi Culture Center.

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