Kyoshi Takahama (1874 - 1959)

Kyoshi Takahama carried out great achievements as the best disciple of Shiki Masaoka, a great man of Haiku, and gave the monumental achievement in the world of Haiku.
Kyoshi was born 4th son to Shoushirou Masatada Ikeuchi, the samurai in the feudal domain of Matsuyama, in £Îagamachi-shin-cho (present Minato-cho), Matsuyama, in 1874 (Meiji 7).
At the age of 9, he succeeded to his grandmother's parental home, the family of Takahama. In 1888 (Meiji 21).
He entered Iyo Ordinary Junior High School and he was in the same class with Hekigotou Kawahigashi who was one year older than him. Kyoshi got to know Shiki through Hekigotou and he was given a pen name "Kyoshi" by Shiki.
In 1898 (Meiji 31), he took over the Haiku magazine, "Hototogisu" that was published by Kyokudo Yanagihara in Matsuyama, as "Hototogisu" in Tokyo.
He opposed "The new trend Haiku" of Hekigotou and kept the style of conservatives.
He died in 1959 (Showa 34) at the age of 86. His grave was located Jufukuji Temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture.

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