Mukai Kyorai, trained as a samurai, had given up martial service at twenty-tghree and turned to the writing of poetry.

Shortly after meeting Takarai Kikaku, a disciple of Basho, in 1684, Kyorai had become a disciple also.

Kyorai has helped edit two major collections of haiku by Basho and his followers, Arano (“Wilderness”; 1689) and Sarumino (“The Monkey's Raincoat”; 1691).

On the city’s outskirts he has built a small retreat, which Basho has used often, here writing Saga nikki (“Saga Diary”; 1691) before dying in 1694.

Kyorai has now devoted himself to teaching haiku and to interpreting his master’s works.