We were deeply saddened to learn that Shuntaro Tanikawa, celebrated Japanese poet and translator, died in Tokyo on Wednesday 13th November, aged 92.

Tanikawa wrote more than 60 books of poetry in his lifetime, penning lyrics, prose poems, narratives, epics and satires - he experimented in form and theme, combining clarity with subtlety. He found joy in exploring the poetic - not only in the repetitive music of the spoken word, but also the magic hidden in little things. He said that he used to think poems descended like an inspiration from the heavens. But, as he grew older, he felt the poems welling up from the ground.

We are proud to have published two collections of his: Selected Poems (1998) and New Selected Poems (2015), both translated by William I. Elliott and Kazuo Kawamura.

Shuntaro Tanikawa produced some 60 books of poetry (some of them best-sellers) and won every major Japanese award for his writing. An English translation of his work received the American BookAward in 1988. His work has been translated into 15 languages and ten selections have been published in English. He wrote video, radio and film scripts and plays for children. He was the translator of the Mother Goose rhymes and was, for many years, the translator of Peanuts.

His passing is a great loss, and our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends. A comprehensive obituary has been shared by The Guardian.