Spring mist, morning dew, and evening rain, the song of the nightingale and the moon over the rice fields: Japanese short poems artfully celebrate flawless beauty in the smallest space. With just a few brush strokes, the image of a landscape and the mood of a moment come to life. In their unique brevity, Tanka and Haiku give a poignant expression to the feeling of unity of all living things and the deep connection with nature. Mount Fuji, the bamboo forests, and the blooming cherry trees of Japan are recurring motifs. They also address themes of timeless relevance, such as longing, love's pain, hope, and sorrow. Over a thousand Tanka and Haiku, the oldest from the seventh century and the youngest from the twentieth century, have been selected for this representative volume and organized according to the five Japanese seasons.