Minamoto no Saneakira (源信明)
MINAMOTO no Saneakira (910 - 970) was a Japanese official and poet of the mid-Heian period. His father was MINAMOTO no Kintada, who is one of the Sanjurokkasen (36 Immortal Poets). Saneakira was also selected as one of the Sanjurokkasen.
On New Years day in 937, he was appointed as Kurodo (Chamberlain). In 939, he was appointed as Kokushi (an officer of local government) in Wakasa Province. Then he filled the posts of Zuryo (a provincial governor who actually moved to the province and took charge of it) of Provinces such as Shinano, Bingo, Echigo, and Mutsu, and ended his career as Jushiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade) in 968. In 970, he died at the age of 61. He left many poems starting with a dirge at the death of the Retired Emperor Uda, the Emperor Murakami's byobu-uta (screen poems, poems composed following the pictures on folding screens) of picturesque scenery, a byobu-uta at the Mogi (coming-of-age ceremony for girls) of the Imperial Princess Shoshi, the daughter of the Emperor Suzaku, etc. It is said that he had an intimate relationship with the poetess Nakatsukasa. The poems he exchanged with her were included in "Saneakira shu" as a series of poems. In addition, he is said to have had an intimate relationship with the third daughter of 源公平 (Saneakira's uncle) and Kanin no Okimi as well.
22 of his poems were selected for chokusen wakashu (anthologies of poems collected by Imperial command) starting when 'Gosen Wakashu' (Later selected collection of Japanese poetry) was compiled and onwards.
He left behind a personal collection 'Saneakira shu.'