OFFICIAL VISITS: 'Celebration in Memory of a famous Japanese Poet.' 'A mood of celebration...

OFFICIAL VISITS: 'Celebration in Memory of a famous Japanese Poet.' 'A mood of celebration came to London's Kew Gardens when members of the Japanese poetry group'Tamamokai' took part in a ceremony to commemorate a famous Japanese poet, Kyoshi Takahama (1874-1959). Raising a hammer to open a cask of sake is Mrs Izumi Takagi, one of over 100 members of the group who celebrated the event, marked by the unveiling of a granite block inscribed with some of the poet's words which were inspired by his visits to Kew Gardens. The memorial stone was unveiled by Mrs Takagi's mother-in-law, Mrs Haruko Takagi, who is president of the poetry group and daughter of Kyoshi Takagi, considered to be one of the greatest writers in the 1000 year history of Haiku poetry. Apart from specialising in Haiku - the shortest traditional form of Japanese poetry - Kyoshi also developed a new style of illustrative prose which significantly influenced later developments in the Japanese novel. The Japanese Consul-General, Minister Shozo Kadota, proposed a toast to Anglo-Japanese friendship during the ceremony which was held close to the Japanese gateway known as Chokushi-Mon, presented to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew following the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition in 1910.'