Masaoka Shiki was a prominent Japanese poet, critic, and journalist born in 1867. He is best known for his contributions to the traditional Japanese poetry form called haiku. Shiki played a crucial role in modernizing haiku, emphasizing the importance of personal expression and observation of nature. In addition to his poetry, Shiki was a significant literary figure who advocated for the reform of Japanese literature. He introduced the concept of shasei, or "sketching from life," which encouraged poets to draw inspiration from their immediate surroundings. Shiki's influence continues to be felt in contemporary Japanese poetry.