Kiwao Nomura has been described as one of the undisputed driving forces behind contemporary Japanese poetry. Since his debut at age 36 with the collection of poems Wilting River, for which he received his first important literary prize, the Rekitei Prize for Young Poets, Nomura has published a dozen collections of poetry. Recordings of Nomura performing his poetry with musicians have also been released on compact disc.

Nomura will read from his new book, Spectacle and Pigsty, which Publishers Weekly described as “the work of a surprising and important contemporary Japanese poet.”

He will be accompanied in his reading, which will be bilingual, by his translators, Kyoko Yoshida and Forrest Gander.