Misako Yoke shares that the title 'Quiet Wonder' captures what readers can expect from her book. 'Quiet' encourages readers to slow down and be present, while 'wonder' invites them to appreciate the beauty around them.
A moment of quietness sparks a sense of wonder
Nick: We’ll get into all of the details of your haiku and how you overcome those challenges. But let's talk about your title, Quiet Wonder, I imagined this represents the experience of writing and also reading or interpreting haiku.
Misako: Exactly, you know me so well. This is just like your book, Ikigai-kan, you added kan. That subtle, just one letter changes the entire course of what the book is about. We get the feelings of ikigai-kan, you probably specifically changed the title from ikigai which is something often lost in translation, kind of misunderstanding happens.
Ikigai-kan, I wanted to create that kind of precision into my haiku title. And while I was creating it, each haiku is a humble invitation to my readers, and I wanted to create something you can expect from only two words. I challenged myself only two words to give the title.
The ‘quiet’ portion gives my readers time to take a pause, the moment of quietness that sits the environment to enjoy their wonder like a kid, just like me, ‘Oh my goodness, this is beautiful!’ To enjoy immensely.
Before that, you have to have a quiet moment; not being rushed or not being pushed—being there, right there at the moment. Be there, here, now. Moment is created by quiet that set the motion of wonder and this combination came to me in a quite lovely way, after probably some cut and paste and erasing, typing like crazy.
It's a very lovely way and I love the idea of this quiet wonder, it represents Pacific Northwest kind of quietness. And when you go into the forest, it's a grandeur of the scenery or big waterfalls—that contrast this book creates is represented very well.
Nick: I thought what a wonderful title and I kind of instantly thought that's such a fitting title for haiku because haiku does require pause or reflection or space or yutori, or this idea of quietness. And then especially in the natural world, which your book does focus on, there is so much wonder and amazement and joy and you see life come alive.
And you need that quietness, you need to be observing with empty mind or a free mind to really see the moment. So I thought, what a fitting title. And yeah, I mean, the title, if we're honest, it's also a way to market your book.
Misako: Yes, true.
Nick: You should buy the book because of this title.
Misako: Right.
Nick: I thought that's a really impressive title.