About this Event
Join author Keiko Honda for an afternoon centred on her new essay collection, (Caitlin Press). Written in the tradition of zuihitsu (随筆) — the thousand-year-old Japanese form pioneered by Sei Shōnagon, meaning "following the brush" —the collection wanders through loss, body memories, and everyday observations without forcing life into rigid conclusions.
Honda, a former cancer epidemiologist turned writer, draws on Bashō's principle of karumi (軽み) — lightness — alongside yoin (余韻, resonance) and mono no aware (物の哀れ, the beauty of what fades), exploring what it means to carry a life with presence, rather than grasping at it.
Honda will read from the collection, discuss what drew her to zuihitsu over the conventional narrative arc, and open the floor for questions. Copies of Words That Last will be available for purchase on-site, followed by a book signing. Light refreshments will be served.
“Keiko Honda is a rare writer who skillfully, yet quietly, draws us into various forms of loss with intimates and people with whom she works and has met. Surprising. Tender. Exquisitely written, quietly illuminating, you will read this collection more than once. It is a companion.”
—Betsy Warland, Author of lost lagoon/lost in thought
Event venue & nearby stays
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby, Canada
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