MORITA SOKO (1879 - 1943)

SUGARWARANO MICHIZANE WAS A HEIAN PERIOD NOBLEMAN WHO WAS ENSHRINED IN KITANO TENMANGU AT DAZAIFU IN KUSHU PREFECTURE. THE TITLE OF THIS SCULPTURE 'AKO'S RECITAL' IS BASED ON THE POEM HE WROTE WHEN HE WAS ELEVEN YEARS OLD:

THE MOON IS SHINING AS A SNOW FLAKE IN THE SUNLIGHT
THE PLUM BLOSSOMS ARE BRIGHT AS STARS
HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE IN THIS DARK BLUE SKY
THE GARDEN I'M STANDING IN IS FILLED WITH THE PERFUME OF PLUM BLOSSOMS