Naitō Jōsō
Japanese haiku poet
About Naitō Jōsō
Lived 1662 – 1704 (aged 41–42). Naitō Jōsō was a Japanese haiku poet.
was one of the principal disciples of Bashō, and himself also a respected haiku writer in the Genroku period of Japan. Originally, he was a samurai from Owari, but he had to leave military service due to ill health. Taking up the literary life, he became a devout disciple of Bashō, and when the Master died in 1694, Naito mourned him for a full three years, and remained his devout follower for the rest of his life.
Examples of Naitō's Haiku Mountains and plains/ all are taken by the snow --/ nothing remains
No need to cling/ to things --/ floating frog.
These branches/ were the first to bud --/ falling blossoms.
A lightning bolt/ splits in two and strikes/ the mountaintop.
The sleet falls/ As if coming through the bottom/ Of loneliness.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Naitō Jōsō's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Naitō Jōsō?
Japanese haiku poet
When was Naitō Jōsō born?
Naitō Jōsō was born in 1662 in Inuyama.
When did Naitō Jōsō die?
Naitō Jōsō died on 29 March 1704.
What was Naitō Jōsō's occupation?
Naitō Jōsō was a haiku poet.
What nationality was Naitō Jōsō?
Naitō Jōsō was Japanese.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Naitō Jōsō. https://biography.guide/naito-joso/
MLA: "Naitō Jōsō." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/naito-joso/.
Chicago: "Naitō Jōsō." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/naito-joso/.
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