Tokyo Poetry Week

Get involved in Tokyo’s vibrant poetry scene with a range of events happening around the city.

What to expect

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Tokyo Poetry Journal, the inaugural Tokyo Poetry week brings together Tokyo’s creative communities through four events across the city. Events feature poetry workshops and readings, book launches, live painting, music, art, and more, with slam poetry champions from home and abroad appearing as special guests.

Schedule

Here’s what to look out for during the week:

Nov 12: Visual/Concrete Poetry Party: Kanto x Kansai

The Den, Koenji
Free
7 p.m.

A collaboration with Concrete Poetry Party from Osaka, this event celebrates experimental poetry through readings accompanied by improvised music, live painting and poetry writing, poetry board games, a one-day pop-up library featuring poetry books, and more.

Nov 15: Tokyo Poetry Journal Vol. 17: Portraits of Tokyo launch party

Art Atelier Tokyo, Oshiage
¥3,000
7 p.m.
Readings by contributors and special guests: slam poetry champion of Japan, Miki Yuuri, and organizer of slam poetry championship Mexico, Paolo Guerrero.
Photo portrait sessions and on-site poetry zinemaking.

Nov 19: Art poetry workshop and reading

UltraSuperNew Gallery Kura, Shibuya
8 p.m.

More details to come on workshop sign-up and other activities.

Nov 20: ToPoJo at Tokyo Art Tank collaboration

Gallery Conceal Shibuya
8 p.m.
Free

Part 1: Poetry book and zine market
Q&A with indie publishers (ToPoJo, Moon Hotel Press, Melom Press, and more TBA).
Part 2: Performance poetry workshop with Marcellus Nealy.
Free entry.

Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.