Japanese Humor Poem Types

Senryu is a type of short Japanese poetry that is structurally similar to the haiku but focuses more on human nature than the seasons. More specifically, senryu is usually focused on the comedic aspects of humanity, with a special focus on irony, wit, and everyday situations.

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Zappai are a poem form that is similar to haikus but thematically distinct. Both use a 5-7-5 syllable structure, but zappai are distinctly humorous whereas haikus (traditionally) reference the seasons. Neither is to be confused with senryu, yet another 5-7-5 form with its own unique rules for theming.

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