The Kojiki is arguably the earliest and most important collection of stories concerning the founding of Japan and the beginnings of Japanese culture. Dating from the sixth century, the Kojiki introduces us to a delightful host of gods and goddesses, heros and heroines, warriors and soothsayers, beautiful princesses and hideous demons. Yoko Danno’s graceful retelling of the Kojiki in modern English brings this ancient classic to life for a new generation of readers. Illustrations, notes and bibliography are included to enhance the reader’s enjoyment.

Yoko Danno was born, raised, and educated in Japan. She has been writing poetry solely in English for more than 35 years. In addition to being a poet, she is also a translator and the editor of the Ikuta Press in Kobe, Japan.

The Ikuta Press was established in 1970 in Kobe, Japan by American expatriate poet Lindley Williams Hubbell and Kanaseki Hisao, a scholar and translator known for his work on Gertrude Stein and American Indian mythology. Editor-in-chief Yoko Danno put out the first Anthology, an annual, or sometimes biennial, poetry collection. Among the writers Danno published in the series, which continued until 1991, were Sato Hiroaki, Timothy Harris and Arturo Silva.

She has published several chapbooks including Passage' 77, Four Songs (reprinted in the International Anthology of Poetry and Prose 47 by New Directions, New York, 1983) and Portraits' 78. She is the author of five books of poetry: Trilogy (1970, 2004), Hagoromo (1984, 2004), Dusty Mirror (1977) (all published by The Ikuta Press, Kobe), Epitaph for Memories (by The Bunny and the Crocodile Press, Washington, D.C., 2002) and The Blue Door (written in collaboration with James C. Hopkins, published by The Word Works, Washington, D.C., 2006). She lives in Kobe, Japan, with her family.