10 Facts About Noriko Ibaragi

Noriko Ibaragi was a Japanese poet, playwright, essayist, children's literature writer, and translator.

Noriko Ibaragi began to learn Korean as a second language at the age of fifty, going on to publish her own translations of poetry by her Korean contemporaries.

Noriko Ibaragi was born in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture and spent her childhood in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture.

In 1948, Noriko Ibaragi wrote children's stories and, both broadcast on NHK radio.

Noriko Ibaragi's poetry, was selected for publication on the September volume in 1950.

In 1976, at the age of fifty, Noriko Ibaragi decided to learn Korean as a second language.

Noriko Ibaragi corresponded with the Korean poet Hong Yun-suk while learning Korean, writing that she thought the "theft of language" during the Japanese occupation of Korea was a crime, in reference to Hong being educated in Japanese.

Noriko Ibaragi was awarded a Yomiuri Prize for her translation of Korean poems in 1990.

Noriko Ibaragi died on 17 February 2006 from a brain hemorrhage.

Noriko Ibaragi had already prepared a will three months earlier; she had written out a farewell letter and had it printed, ready to send to some two hundred of her friends and correspondents.