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Kyokudo Yanagihara(1867-1957) was born the first son to father, Gonnosuke, mother, Toshi, in Hokyo-cho, Onsen-county, Iyo-no-kuni(The ancient name of Ehime Prefecture). His real name was "Masayuki".
He entranced into Matsuyama Junior Highschool in 1881(Meiji 14), but since then, he dropped out of the school with Shiki. In 1883(Meiji 16), he went up to Tokyo and in 1889(Meiji 22), graduated from Kyoritsu School(later on, Kaisei Junior Highschool). He return to Matsuyama to enter the Kainan Newspaper Publishing Company as a newspaperman.
In 1894, he became the member of the "Shofu-kai" founded by Souryu Noma and others, and in the following year, he took lessons in Haiku, day after day, given by Shiki who has come home at that time.
In 1896(Meiji 29), Shiki gave him the name of "Kyokudo" as his Haiku pen name, since then, he has adopted it.
In 1897(Meiji 30), he published the monthly Haiku magazine "Hototogisu" with Shiki in Matsuyama, and handed it over Kyoshi in Tokyo since No.21 of it. His personality was unselfish and disinterested, so he devoted his life to throw light on Shiki's brilliant achievements.
Kyoukudo died at the age of 90 on 7th, Oct. of 1957 (Showa 32).
