1763-1827
小林一茶
Issa Kobayashi
A Haiku Poet with a Heart for the Everyday
A Difficult Childhood
Issa Kobayashi, born in 1763 in Shinano Province (now Nagano Prefecture), lived a life marked by hardship and resilience. His real name was Yataro, and he came from a farming family. Issa’s early years were challenging. His mother passed away when he was just three years old, and his father remarried when Issa was eight. Unfortunately, his relationship with his stepmother was strained. She favored her own children, leaving Issa to care for his younger half-siblings. When the baby cried, Issa would be scolded, making him feel isolated and unloved. At the age of 15, his father sent him to Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to work. Feeling abandoned, Issa despaired, believing that even his father had turned his back on him. However, his father’s decision stemmed from a desire to protect Issa from the toxic environment at home. This difficult upbringing shaped the emotional depth that would later become evident in Issa’s haiku poetry.
