Ariwara no Yukihira

Ariwara no Yukihira (left) in exile on Suma Island with Matsukaze and Murasame, depicted in an 1887 woodblock print by Yoshitoshi.

was a Japanese Heian period courtier and bureaucrat, who held a number of positions over the course of his life. At one time or another, he was governor of the provinces of Harima, Bizen, Shinano, and Bitchū. He also served as , , and inspector (azechi) of Mutsu and Dewa provinces.

Yukihira was also a poet, many of his works being published alongside those of his brother, Narihira. He also established a school, called Shogaku-in, for the purpose of educating members of the Ariwara family.

His most famous poem, no. 16 in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu is as follows: Japanese text Romanized Japanese 立ち別れ いなばの山の 峰に生ふる まつとし聞かば 今帰り来むTachi-wakare inaba no yama no mine ni ouru matsu to shi kikaba ima kaeri konThough I may leave for Mt. Inaba, famous for the pines covering its peak, if I hear you pine for me I'll come straight home to you.

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