“Lord Tamekane's poetry is far superior to that of others. In this day and age, no one can compare with him in this art”: with this statement Retired Emperor Hanazono characterized the work of his poetry teacher, Kygoku Tamekane. In the conclusion to his 1332 obituary for Tamekane he mourned: “People simply do not understand the workings of the Way of Poetry. Now Tamekane is dead. Will true poetry disappear completely? How sad it is! How sad.” Tamekane's cousin and bitter rival, Nij Tameyo, had a different assessment, however: “Tamekane makes light of and ridicules the language of the great poets of the past. It leaves one speechless. Others look askance at him. . . .”

These two contradictory views sum up the controversial poet and his life. The complex history of his own family, the Mikohidari branch of the Fujiwara house, provides the key to better understanding his situation. One must...