Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902 / Japan)

Masaoka Shiki (September 17, 1867 – September 19, 1902) was the pen-name of a Japanese author, poet, literary critic, and journalist in Meiji period Japan. His real name was Masaoka Tsunenori , but as a child he was called Tokoronosuke . Later, he changed his name to Noboru .

Shiki was a strong advocate of modernization of Japanese poetry, introducing the terms haiku to replace stand-alone hokku, and tanka to replace the 31-mora waka.