Various Japanese poetic diaries and collections were composed during the 12th century, continuing the Heian tradition of personal literary expression. These works, often by court ladies or retired nobles, blended poetry with prose commentary, preserving waka composed in specific social contexts while providing insights into daily life and emotional experiences.

Poetic diaries maintained the Heian tradition of integrating poetry into daily life documentation, demonstrating how verse functioned as social communication and emotional expression. These works preserved contextual information about poetic composition that standalone anthologies lacked, helping later readers understand how waka operated in social situations. The diary form's combination of prose and poetry influenced later Japanese literary genres, including zuihitsu (essay) traditions.