Shuri Kido, sometimes referred to as the “far north poet,” is considered one of the most influential contemporary Japanese poets. Among his more than a dozen published books are poetry collections, essays on literature and Buddhism, and translations of Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot. Kido’s own work is infused with his extensive knowledge of Japanese culture. (updated 10/2021)
Forrest Gander is the author, most recently, of the poetry collection Twice Alive (New Directions, 2021). A translator and multiple-genre writer with degrees in geology and literature, he has received, among other honors, the Pulitzer Prize, the Best Translated Book Award, and fellowships from the Library of Congress, the Guggenheim Foundation, and United States Artists. Born in the Mojave Desert, he lives in California. (updated 10/2021)