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Traditional Korean poetry 'Afterimage' is first by foreigner to be translated into Japanese, English

Published: 12 Mar. 2026, 18:26 Updated: 12 Mar. 2026, 18:37

WOO JI-WON
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The cover of the traditional Korean poetry collection "Afterimage" by Akio Nakagawa [DK]

Akio Nakagawa, a professor of contemporary culture at Shokei University in Japan, recently published a collection of sijo poems titled “Afterimage.”

Sijo is a traditional Korean poetic form comprising three lines. Each line contains 14 to 16 syllables for a total of 44 to 46 syllables.

There have been very few attempts by foreigners to write the centuries-old Korean form in their own languages, and “Afterimage” marks the first in which a sijo collection by a non-Korean poet has been translated into Japanese and English.

“Sijo allows poets to express themselves more deeply and gives them a way to comfort themselves or speak directly [to their readers] through the poem,” Nakagawa said. “It is a highly sophisticated form of artistic communication.”

Prof. Akio Nakagawa [AKIO NAKAGAWA]

Originally from Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, Nakagawa first encountered sijo while translating Korean literature. He translated a collection by Han Boon-ok, one of the leading poets in contemporary sijo poetry, who later acted as Nakagawa's mentor.

The 30 poems in “Afterimage” reflect the poet's relationship with nature and personal experiences with a wide range of human emotions — from joy and pleasure to anger and sorrow.

“Enlightenment,” which portrays the transformation of the poet's inner world after he loses his sense of self, is one of the more notable poems, as is “Afterimage,” also the title of the collection, which weaves together the poet's thoughts on separation and melancholic love. Several poems, including “A Birthday” and “The Days of Our Lives,” depict his emotions regarding parenthood.

Meanwhile, “MRI Scan” and “Fragile Wish” take on a more humorous tone, with the latter even referencing the superhero Spider-Man.

While some question whether translations can fully convey the essence of the original language, the poems in “Afterimage” surprisingly maintain their emotional resonance in English.

“The task of sijo today is to preserve its traditional beauty while adapting to modern expressions,” Nakagawa said. “Young people should create new sijo with their contemporary sensibilities.”

The collection is available on Aladin.

BY WOO JI-WON [[email protected]]