Man'yōshū · Nara Period · ca. 750

1,200-Year-Old Love Letter to Lake Suwa, Japan

諏訪の海沖つ白浪立ちそひて妹が目遠くなりにけるかも

Suwa no umi / okitsu shiranami / tachi soite / imo ga me tōku / nari ni keru kamo

White waves rise and swell on Suwa's distant waters— like my love, now far beyond reach

— Anonymous (作者不詳)

About the Poet

This poem is one of many anonymous works in the Man'yōshū, Japan's oldest poetry anthology compiled around 759 CE. Anonymous poems in this collection often came from ordinary people—soldiers, frontier guards, travelers, and provincial residents—whose names were not recorded but whose emotions were preserved for eternity. This particular poet was likely a traveler or official passing through the Shinano Province (modern Nagano), experiencing the raw beauty of Lake Suwa while separated from a loved one. The Man'yōshū contains over 4,500 poems, with roughly half attributed to unknown authors, representing voices from all social classes during the Nara period (710-794). These anonymous works are treasured precisely because they capture universal human experiences—love, longing, and the bittersweet nature of parting—that transcend time and social status. For modern travelers, encountering these nameless poets' words at Lake Suwa creates a profound connection to emotions felt over 1,200 years ago.

Lake Suwa, Suwa City, Nagano

Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture is a mystical highland lake surrounded by mountains, famous for its hot springs and ancient Suwa Grand Shrine. In autumn, the lake transforms into a canvas of silver-white waves against amber mountains, exactly as this ancient poet described. Visit for the spectacular Suwa Lake Fireworks Festival in August, or come in winter to witness the rare 'Omiwatari'—ice ridges that form across the frozen lake, believed to be the path of gods. The four Suwa Grand Shrines, among Japan's oldest, host the dramatic Onbashira Festival every six years. Relax in lakeside onsen with stunning mountain views, sample local miso cuisine, and explore the Takashima Castle. Best reached from Tokyo via limited express train to Kami-Suwa Station (about 2.5 hours). Autumn offers the clearest views and comfortable temperatures.

Understanding the Poem

This elegant Man'yōshū poem employs the natural imagery of Lake Suwa's white waves as an objective correlative for emotional distance. The phrase 'tachi soite' (rising together) suggests the relentless, continuous nature of both the waves and the poet's growing sense of separation. Lake Suwa, called 'umi' (sea) despite being a lake, emphasizes its vast, overwhelming presence—a barrier between lovers. The poem exemplifies the Man'yōshū's characteristic directness and emotional sincerity, contrasting with later, more allusive court poetry. The white waves become a visual metaphor for the accumulating days and distance separating the poet from their beloved ('imo,' an intimate term for wife or lover). The final exclamatory particle 'kamo' expresses wistful resignation—a proto-form of 'mono no aware,' that distinctly Japanese sensitivity to the pathos of passing things and inevitable separations.