Iroha Pad: A Waka Composing and Playing Interface Using the Anagram of the Iroha Poem

Abstract

We propose "Iroha Pad'', a waka composing and playing interface using the anagram of the iroha poem that is a Japanese traditional pangram. This system supports users who have less literacy of Japanese literature for composing and appreciation of a waka. Users anagrammatize the iroha poem on 8 by 8 grid and make phrases of a waka like playing a puzzle. A waka is composed by arranging made phrases according to traditional waka styles. Each character of the composed waka is assigned a musical note of Japanese traditional musical scales. Users can appreciate the composed waka by playing sounds of characters of the composed waka like playing musical instruments.