TANKA ― Traditional Japanese Poetry―

これどうですか: The so-called 'Soushoku-danshi', or herbivore boy, is on the rise in Japan these days.

「草食男子 Soushoku-danshi」 is a man who doesn't actively pursue girls.

Naturally, compared with other countries, there are more shy males in Japan.

But Japanese males actually had a passion for their romance in the old days.

There is a kind of traditional poetry in Japan called “短歌 Tanka”.

(Tanka has strict rules with respect to the poem's structure: 5-7-5-7-7.) よくこの文の意味がわからないですけど、これで直したらどうですか？

In short, it's made by using only 31 characters.

Old Japanese people (年をとっている日本人？笑 The Japanese of old）used to express their feelings with it.

“藤原定家 Fujiwara no Sadaie“ is a collection of poems written by one hundred poets in the 1200s.

It's 77th of all. ? (Number 77?)

This sentence, simply translated to English:

The river flows rapidly, so it's cut off by a crag and branches off.

but the tributaries will eventually converge with the main stream.

But, Tanka often involves hidden meanings. OR But, Tanka often involves deeper meanings. (In English, we call this 'reading between the lines'. What is it called in Japanese?

What the poet meant to say was:

“Even if we are separated from one another somewhere in the course of time,

I believe we'll certainly meet again.”

He is a romantic poet who hopelessly longs for his sweetheart.

どういう意味？

Guys are increasing called(So called) “Soushoku-danshi” (are increasing) in Japan these days. (Just a suggestion)

「草食男子 Soushoku-danshi」 means men who can't actively get close to girls.

Compared with other countries, naturally, there are many more shy males in Japanese.

But Japanese males(men) actually had a passion for their romance in olden times(This one's tricky, I dunno why it changes to "olden times").

There is traditional poetry in Japan named “短歌 Tanka”. (Poetry, and most other similar nouns, geometry etc, are singular)

Tanka is based on a stern style (what low of?) characters 5-7-5-7-7.

In short, it's made by only 31 characters. (Or more accurately, syllables.)

Old Japanese people expressed their feelings with it.

“藤原定家 Fujiwara no Sadaie“ was completed this collection of poems written by one hundred poets in the 1200s.

but those will finally meet back to the main stream.

But, Tanka often have different meanings.

The true meaning of this poem is

It's a poem of romance for those hopelessly longing for their sweethearts.

But Japanese males actually had expressed/showed passion for their romance in olden times. => Because Japanese males nowadays also have passion, using "had" is not really correct. A better word to use is "expressed/showed", because Japanese males in the past would write love poems, or sing songs to their girls etc.

In short, it's made by composed of using only 31 characters. OR, "... it's made up by only 31 characters."

Japanese people used to express their feelings with it through Tanka in olden times. ==> "with it" is not exactly correct, although we get what you mean. "through Tanka" is the equivalent of 短歌を通じて, which is more appropriate in my opinion. :)

「百人一首 Hyakunin-isshu」is one of the many collections.

“藤原定家 Fujiwara no Sadaie“ completed this collection of poems that were written by a/one hundred poets in the 1200s.

It's the 77th tanka of all.

But, there are often deeper meanings embedded within the Tanka OR But, there are often deeper meanings hidden behind the words in the Tanka. のほうがいいと思います。＾＾

(I guessed correctly! :D)

The translated sentences were too long for me...