Matsu Basho, a Famous Japanese Poet

By Mina Tanaka

Matsuo Basho was a famous haikai poet in Japan. He was born in Mie prefecture of Japan on October 12, 1644. When he was 13 years old, his father died,  and Matsuo started writing haikus in 1657. He wrote the oldest extant haiku in 1662. He took a trip to Japan’s north side on May 16, 1689. Then he wrote his travelogues. Its name is “Okunohosomichi." He came back to his hometown in 1690. He wrote a last haiku just before his death in 1694.