365 Self-Liner Notes

It has been a month since the release of Mei Kasahara's first poetry collection, "365," so I would like to record how my world has changed since publishing it.
I decided to create this collection of one-line poems around the end of August, when the air was thick with intense heat, the cicadas were chirping, and the morning was as clear as freshly washed jeans.
It has been a little less than a year since I started posting on Twitter and in poetry magazines. During that time, I posted a poem every morning with the hashtag #OneLinePoem. Haiku and tanka are popular, but since I am not well-versed in fixed forms or seasonal words, I decided to group my daily ideas, sudden scenes, messages, and wordplay all under #OneLinePoem.

After continuing for a while, I realized that these one-line poems were better received than the longer poems I published on note or my blog. Perhaps it is because they are quick to read. Since they are fragmentary and instantaneous poems, they might be easier to hold onto in one's heart. Shuntaro Tanikawa once said, "Being able to read them quickly and read them over and over again, that is the good thing about poetry."

Naturally, it wasn't the case that I could easily write 365 poems in 365 days. After about six months, I ran out of ideas. I pulled out old notebooks from my bookshelf to excerpt from them, scribbled words that came to me in the bathroom onto a notepad while naked, and carried a notepad with me to the toilet and when I went out. Rain or shine, I faced my one-line poems and kept posting them while rubbing my sleepy eyes. Stubbornness is my only weapon.

Then, the one-line poems changed from mere play into wishes and prayers. A lot has happened this past year. I don't know if things like the pandemic, war, or shootings influenced my poetry, but I wanted to write about living each day. They are like footprints. Because if I die, everything will end. It might be escapism, but I wanted to write about hope, kindness, and love.

That is how I finally decided to compile the 365 poems I had finished into a single collection. First and foremost, the desire to deliver them was strong. Gratitude toward the people who have been supporting me was also a motivation. I don't know if a poetry collection sold on note can be called a "form," but I wanted to give it a "form." I wanted to create a work that would allow people to take a trip away from their daily lives through poetry, even if just a little.

I had no knowledge of bookbinding or anything like that, and since I didn't know how much time it would take, I decided to pass on it this time. E.E. Cummings once said, "Do the easy thing."

I stole the title "365" from the song "365" by the legendary band The Stalin. It is an attitude that my spirit is always punk.

Since I am putting it out there, I want it to sell at least a little. I made a commercial video and used every means possible to announce it. I don't know if that had any effect or not, but quite a few people bought it, and I received many impressions. I was genuinely happy. I want to shake hands with each and every one of them and thank them.

Until now, I had been negative about turning poetry into money and about putting a value on my work. When I was active as a singer, I used to give away CDs for free.

For example, in an era where you can watch unlimited movies and listen to unlimited music for 500 yen as an Amazon Prime member, I was scared that maybe only about five people would buy an electronic poetry collection for 500 yen, which isn't even a paper medium.

My sister, who is a yoga instructor, told me, "Don't lower the price; believe in your own value." So I gathered my courage and released it. By the way, the decision to intersperse photos between the poems came from her advice.

I thought this was the moment of truth. I just went for it and released it!

When I opened the lid, ten times more people than I expected bought it. Many people even registered for note just for the sake of buying my poetry collection. There were also people who introduced "365" on their own TwitCasting. I am more grateful than I can express.

I could not have come this far on my own strength.

I feel like I have finally taken the first step.
There is no success without failure.
That is what it means to step onto the stage.
I am already working on my next plan.

Your boredom is my deadline.
Run! Before you are caught by yourself.