Makoto Ooka was born in 1931, in Shizuoka prefecture. Graduated from The University of Tokyo with a degree in Japanese literature. Oh'oka gained prominence as a leader of the second generation of post-war poets and has since continued to work without respite. As a leading poet of contemporary Japan and as a multi-faceted critic in the classics, short verse forms, modern and contemporary poetry, contemporary art and thought, Oh'oka has produced a versatile body of work. His publications include the poetry collections Kioku to Genzai, Tencho suru Rabu Songu, Hika to Shukuju, Haru: Shojo ni, Kusafu ni te, Shi to wa nani ka and Furusato no Mizu e no Messeji (awarded the Hanatsubaki Prize for contemporary poetry) and such works of criticism as Doji no Kakei (awarded the Rekitei Prize), Ki no Tsurayuki (awarded the Yomiuri Literary Prize), Shijin Sugawara no Michizane and Oriori no Uta, as well as Works of Oh'oka Makoto and Complete Poems of Oh'oka Makoto. In 2003 he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit and in 2004 the Legion d'honneur.
Makoto Ooka was born in 1931, in Shizuoka prefecture. Graduated from The University of Tokyo with a degree in Japanese literature. Oh'oka gained prominence as a leader of the second generation of post-war poets and has since continued to work without respite. As a leading poet of contemporary Japan and as a multi-faceted critic in the classics, short verse forms, modern and contemporary poetry, contemporary art and thought, Oh'oka has produced a versatile body of work. His publications include the poetry collections Kioku to Genzai, Tencho suru Rabu Songu, Hika to Shukuju, Haru: Shojo ni, Kusafu ni te, Shi to wa nani ka and Furusato no Mizu e no Messeji (awarded the Hanatsubaki Prize for contemporary poetry) and such works of criticism as Doji no Kakei (awarded the Rekitei Prize), Ki no Tsurayuki (awarded the Yomiuri Literary Prize), Shijin Sugawara no Michizane and Oriori no Uta, as well as Works of Oh'oka Makoto and Complete Poems of Oh'oka Makoto. In 2003 he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit and in 2004 the Legion d'honneur.