Machi Tawara's first book of poems, The Anniversary of the Salad combines the classical 'tanka' form with the subject of a modern love affair. It became a sensation, selling over 2 million copies - and the 'salad phenomenon' in Japanese culture was comparable to the 'bananamania' that followed publication of the first novel by Tawara's contemporary Banana Yoshimoto. Contains 15 poems:
'August Morning'
'Baseball Game'
'Morning Necktie'
'I Am the Wind'
'Summertime Ship'
'Wake-up Call'
'Hashimoto High School'
'Pretending to Wait for Someone'
'Salad Anniversary'
'Twilight Alley'
'My Bisymmetrical Self'
'So, Good Luck'
'Jazz Concert'
'Backstreet Cat'
'Always American'