31-Syllable waka poems expressing nature in four seasons and people's sentiments have been read and loved since the ancient times, as one of the most distinctive styles of Japanese poetry. Examining their long history, it becomes evident that waka poems have not only been shaped and formulated with words, but also been deeply connected with and visualized through paintings and crafts.Famous anthologies of poems such as "Manyoshu" and "Kokinwakashu" introduced a number of well-known poets. Among them, specially established poets called 'kasen', immortal poets, were featured in active production of 'kasen-e', a portrait of a waka poet with his or her masterpiece. This way of appreciating images of poets and their poetry has been cherished over generations and can be seen today in the game karuta, Hyakunin-Isshu (the hundred poems by one hundred poets), and in a variety of other forms.

Waka poetry also features places and sights of Japan in phrases, known as 'utamakura', through which readers associate with a certain image. Utamakura phrases soon became motifs of paintings and crafts, eventually developing into subjects like 'Musashino-zu' (the image of the scenery of Musashino) and 'Yoshinoyama-zu' (the image of Mt. Yoshino).Pieces of art in conjunction with waka poetry demonstrate a great deal of imagination and a sense of fun as well. This can be experienced in various forms, such as the concept of a rebus (a type of puzzle where you decode a message consisting of pictures representing syllables and words) to guess what poem is presented through limited motifs, seen in the pieces called "Ougi-no-Soshi" ; or, patterns of combined letters and images for screens such as 'Hibara-zu' and kosode kimono to visualize a poem. These are excellent examples of the wit and playfulness among those who, in the era, had knowledge of and appreciation for waka masterpieces.Media such as TV, magazines, posters and website widely diffused in our contemporary lives consist of both language and imagery. In exploring the Japanese tradition for fun with language and imagery, you will come across the relationship between waka and art as compelling evidence. We sincerely hope that you will fully enjoy this harmonious domain of words and images, a predecessor of today's visual culture.