Written in forms like haiku or tanka (Japanese style short poems), death poems are part of Japanese culture and preserve a dying person’s final words. Since the middle ages, many warriors and educated people have left behind parting thoughts; in these a variety of sentiments can be discerned. These parting thoughts can be classified into several patterns. Those who left behind poems about the futility of life, about regrets or about their grief: Despite having risen to unify Japan from a deprived farming background, TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi’s parting words were about the futility of human life. “Appearing like dew, vanishing like dew, such is my life, even Naniwa’s (Osaka area) splendor was a dream within a dream.” GAMO Ujisato, a warrior in the Warring States period, wrote the following lament: “Even if the wind does not blow, the flowers will fall, but why are the spring storms so impatient?” Those who died peacefully: On successfully avenging the enemy of his master, Edo period samurai OISHI Kuranosuke was sentenced to commit hara-kiri by the shogun. He left behind the following words: “What peacefulness, my worries have cleared, and I can cast aside my body in this transient world with no cloud in sight.” SHIMA Akito, a Showa era poet who was executed for killing a person during a robbery, left the following poem: “In the warmth of the evening as tomorrow’s execution draws near, I never expected to have such a pure heart.” Those who died, by proudly sacrificing themselves for their country. FURUNO Shigemi, who died in the Pearl Harbor Attack during World War II, prepared himself for death by writing the following poem. “If the flower of my youth falls for your sake, my life has been worthwhile.” Just like in the Japanese national anthem “Kimi ga yo” (Your Reign), “you” (kimi) often refers to the Emperor, but it can also refer to a person one holds dear and this poem can be interpreted both ways. Another of these is the novelist MISHIMA Yukio, who committed suicide in protest of Japan’s political direction. “A small night storm blows, saying ‘falling is the essence of a flower,’ preceding those who hesitate.” Those who met the end by berating themselves or with humor: AMAKASU Masahiko, who led the way to establishing the failed puppet nation of Manchuria: “Big gamble, lost everything, completely cleaned out.” JIPPENSHA Ikku, who wrote “Tokaidochu Hizakurige” (a comical guide book) in the Edo period: “I am leaving now, with the smoke of incense sticks, hai (ash) goodbye.” Those who accepted their death through the metaphor of falling blossoms: HOSOKAWA Garasha, the wife of a warrior: “Knowing when to fall, flowers are flowers, people are people, and this is the way of the world.” A poem said to be created by great Zen priest RYOKAN in the Edo period: “Fallen cherry blossoms, and the remaining blossoms also fated to fall.”