Reading Across Cultures: Silence and Suggestion in Japanese Poetics
with Yuki Tanaka
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life, Reading, Writing for Performance
Online
Online Intermediate, Advanced
Intermediate, Advanced 4 Sessions
4 Sessions In stock
What if the most powerful line in a poem was the one that was never written?
This immersive reading and discussion course explores the quiet, image-rich world of Japanese poetry, literature, and film—where silence carries weight, brevity holds emotion, and suggestion says more than explanation ever could.
We’ll begin with classical Japanese forms like haiku, tanka, and zuihitsu, reading works by Matsuo Bashō, Izumi Shikibu, and Sei Shōnagon. Then we’ll move into modern Japanese fiction, particularly the work of Yasunari Kawabata, examining how subtlety, emotional withholding, and relational complexity emerge in narrative form.
We’ll view selected scenes from Yasujirō Ozu’s films, which reflect many of the same aesthetic values—emphasizing stillness, framing, and the unspoken.
Finally, we’ll connect these traditions to contemporary English-language writers like Paul Yoon and Jenny Xie, whose fiction and poetry engage themes of displacement, observation, and quiet intensity through restrained, image-rich language.
Throughout the course, we’ll reflect on how cultural values shape storytelling and emotional expression across forms. By reading and viewing across time periods and languages, you'll question dominant Western ideals of voice, narrative, and selfhood—and explore how quietness, fragmentation, and restraint can speak with power.
This class will deepen your close reading practice—especially if you’re curious about how to linger with a text, notice what’s quietly unfolding beneath the surface, and stay open to layers that might not be immediately clear. Through guided discussion, selected viewings, and focused close reading, we’ll ask:
- What do we begin to notice when we pause and look more closely?
- How can stillness, fragmentation, and silence reveal emotional truths we might otherwise miss?
- What opens up—on the page, and within us—when we let ourselves read without rushing to resolve?
Perfect for writers, poets, and curious readers looking to expand how they think, feel, and pay attention—across cultures, languages, and storytelling forms. No prior knowledge of Japanese literature or film is required.
Course content and readings are subject to change based on class needs and discussion.
This Class Focuses On:
- Craft & Technique: Focuses on improving writing skills, exploring elements like plot, character, or dialogue.
- Close Reading & Analysis: Engages deeply with published texts to examine craft, language, and style.
What to Expect:
- Reading & Analysis: Published works will be closely read as part of the learning process.
- Class Discussion: Facilitated class conversation.
- Instructor Feedback: Students receive direct feedback from the instructor.
- Peer Feedback: Students share and critique each other’s work.
- Work Outside of Class: 2–3 hours of writing or reading outside of class per week.
Students say…
"[Yuki] was very kind and open and created a wonderful class environment.”
"Yuki is a fabulous teacher who had really innovative ways of helping us find our way to techniques…on our own. He was inclusive, patient, skilled, and introduced us to a variety of perspectives…to get his point across. Would 100% take his class, again. I hope he comes back for next year.”
Registration Dates:
- May 20: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- May 27: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- June 1: Last day of Early Bird discount
- June 3: Scholarship applications open at 10:30 am PT
Yuki Tanaka
Yuki Tanaka was born and raised in Yamaguchi, Japan. He is the author of the debut poetry collection, Chronicle of Drifting (Copper Canyon Press, 2025). His poems have appeared in The New Republic, The Paris Review, Poetry, and elsewhere. He has also co-translated, with Mary Jo Bang, A Kiss for the Absolute: Selected Poems of Shuzo Takiguchi, published by Princeton University Press. He lives in Tokyo and teaches at Hosei University.
FAQ
Complete FAQEach class description includes a breakdown of what you can expect in terms of in-class activity, feedback, and homework (if any).
Generative means you’ll be generating new writing, either in class or at home between classes.
Workshop means you’ll be sharing work to be read and critiqued by your instructor and classmates and that you will also be critiquing the work of your peers.
Reading means you’ll be doing close reading of a work with an eye toward craft.
Craft discussion means you’ll be looking at the tools writers use to do that thing they do so well and then trying it out yourself.
Class levels are designed for various stages of the writing journey. Simply self-select the level that sounds best for where you’re at.
Introductory: This is your first creative writing workshop, first writing class since high school, or first foray into a new genre or form. You’re looking to try something new, kickstart your writing, and/or establish yourself in the fundamentals.
Intermediate: You have a strong understanding of writing fundamentals and are eager to deep dive into craft. You’re honing your writerly identity and voice through independent projects. In workshop, you look for constructive feedback and are ready to do writing and reading outside of class.
Advanced: You’ve written a significant body of work and have taken it through several stages of revision. You’re getting ready to publish or are in the early stage of publishing, and you’re interested in refining the skills that will take you to the next level in the literary industry.
All Levels: You are any of the above and are looking to play with new possibilities.
You’ll get your class information, including Zoom link if applicable, three days before the first day of class.
Write With Hugo House is our free monthly write-in program, operated in partnership with the Seattle Public Library. Two take place onsite at SPL locations, one takes place online.
Sliding-scale classes are offered every quarter. Find them in our Class Catalog.
We announce flash sales, early bird periods, and special deals through our e-newsletter; sign up at the bottom of this page.
At this time, we offer payment plans on classes 8 sessions and up. Email education@hugohouse.org with the name of the class you’re interested in to set up a payment plan.
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We charge a 5% nonrefundable administrative fee for all payment plans.
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Extended payment plans up to 8 monthly installments and 16 semi-monthly installments are available upon request.
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We are unable to hold seats for prospective payment plan students. Students will be enrolled once their first installment has been paid.
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If you need to cancel, Hugo House will issue refunds according to its cancellation and transfer policies. Your 5% nonrefundable admin fee will not be refunded.
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If you withdraw from a class after it begins, you will not receive a refund and are still responsible for paying the full course tuition.
Asynchronous classes are perfect for students that need flexibility!
During an asynchronous class, instructors release new lessons once per week. Students then have one week to complete that lesson and any accompanying coursework. You’ll learn as much as you would in a traditional class but with the flexibility to work at the best times for your schedule!
While there are no live sessions, asynchronous classes are still a lively and rigorous experience. Async classes are not static lessons but an adaptable and energetic community space. Be ready to work in a collaborative environment, giving and receiving feedback on your writing, participating in discussions, and growing your writing practice in a way that works best for you.
Asynchronous classes take place through the website Wet Ink. Students receive an invitation to the class and to set up a Wet Ink account on the start date of the class. Each week of the class, a new lesson will be available through the Wet Ink portal. Classes close two weeks after the end date, and students receive an email containing their content from the class when it closes.
Hugo House will only process refund requests that are submitted 5 business days or more before the class start date. To request a refund, log in to your account, go to “My Account,” select the “Orders” tab on the left-hand side, click the appropriate order, and request a refund for your specific class. Administrative fees apply. Please see our full refund policy here.
In general, we do not record classes. However, an exception if a student has specific access needs.
We encourage students to only sign up for classes that fit with their schedule.
We do not tolerate racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist, transphobic or any other oppressive behaviors, regardless of who commits them. Please check out our full community guidelines by clicking here. If an instance of community guidelines are violated and not resolved within the classroom, students may let us know by filling out the student incident report.
If Hugo House needs to cancel a class for any reason, you’ll receive a full refund.
You can apply for a scholarship by clicking the red “Request a Scholarship” text on class pages. The scholarship request text is located at the top of each class page, underneath the “add to cart” button.
Due to the limited number of scholarships, please only request up to two scholarships for two different classes per quarter if you truly meet the financial need requirements.
Hugo House members get to register early for classes – a full week before they open to the general public!, receive a 10% discount on events and classes, and more. See the full list of membership benefits here!
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If you’re interested in contributing your skills, Hugo House accepts volunteer applications for a variety of roles, including event support, administrative tasks, and more. Learn more on our Volunteer page.
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