The Tosa Diary
[Tosa Nikki] by Ki no Tsurayuki
The “Tosa Diary,” describing the return to Kyoto of a governor of Tosa Province, was probably written in the year 936, from notes taken on the voyage. Although the fiction is maintained throughout that the diary is being written by one of the ladies in the party, it is reasonably certain that the author is the governor himself, the celebrated poet Ki no Tsurayuki.
Tosa Province is the ancient name for the present Kōchi Prefecture, in the south of Shikoku Island.
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Diaries are things written by men, I am told. Nevertheless I am writing one, to see what a woman can do.
Twenty-first day, twelfth moon (the year does not matter): Late at night we made our departure from the house. But I must set things down in a little more detail. A certain gentleman, after four or five years in the province, had finished his term of office as governor, and now, with all the usual round of business concluded and papers of release duly received, he set out from the official residence and moved to a place near the point of embarkation. Before he went, however, various people, acquaintances and strangers alike, came to take their leave. The farewells were particularly distressing for those who had been closely associated with him over these years. There was an endless coming and going all day long, and the commotion lasted well into the night.
Twenty-second day: We offered up prayers for a calm and peaceful voyage—“all the way to Izumi Province.” Fujiwara no Tokizane arranged a farewell celebration “for the road” (not very appropriate
