Posted in writing and poetry, museums on Dec 1st, 2006 No Comments »
Our blogging maiko is still blogging on, now with an article about autumn.
It so happens that autumn is her favorite time to read books (as is the case for most Japanese, that is why the expression “dokusho no aki,” or “autumn for reading” is so common).
Ichimame divulges to us that she is reading a book […]
Posted in writing and poetry, internet on Nov 29th, 2006 No Comments »
When you say “haiku,” you say “Matsuyama.” Matsuyama on Shikoku is the hometown of Matsuoka Shiki (1867-1902), who in his short life transformed the Edo-period hokku into the modern haiku. He is greatly honored in his hometown, with a Shiki Museum and numerous haiku stones. What is more, Shiki was not Matsuyama’s only famous haiku […]
Posted in writing and poetry, haiku on Nov 15th, 2006 No Comments »
The haiku-poet Kobayashi Issa was born in Kashiwabara, in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, and after a life as wandering poet, he lived there again during his last years. As a devout Pure Land Buddhist Issa often visited Zenkoji, and he wrote numerous poems in which the temple figures. The City of Nagano has […]
Posted in writing and poetry, haiku on Oct 30th, 2006 No Comments »
Basho was born in the castle town of Iga-Ueno, in the Kansai area, but at a young age settled in Edo. He made several trips back to western Japan and then also often visited the Nara area or Yamatoji as it is called in Japanese. In 1684 he visited Yoshino and the next year he […]
Posted in writing and poetry, nature, gardens on Oct 28th, 2006 No Comments »
Seen from the city, Higashi-Mukojima, the site of the Hyakkaen Garden, lies on the opposite bank of the Sumida River, something which is also expressed in the name ‘Mukojima,’ which means ‘Yonder Isle,’ or ‘Island on the Other Side of the Sumida.’ The garden was laid out on fertile land along the river’s bank. It […]
Posted in writing and poetry, haiku on Oct 27th, 2006 No Comments »
We are with Basho on (almost) the last leg of his Narrow Road and enter Toyama from Niigata.
fragrance of rice
wading into it
on my right the Rough Sea
wase no ka ya | wakeiru migi wa | Ariso Umi
This is the only haiku Basho wrote in Toyama. Ariso no Umi, the Rough Sea, is is an utamakura […]
Posted in writing and poetry, haiku on Oct 26th, 2006 No Comments »
passing through this world
is like taking shelter
for a winter drizzle
yo ni furu wa | sara ni shigure no | yadori ka na
Sogi (1421-1502)
Hakone Yumoto is the oldest part of Hakone. Already in the Kamakura period it had developed into a spa town and that is still its major characteristic. Conveniently, it is also a traffic […]
Posted in writing and poetry, haiku on Oct 24th, 2006 No Comments »
Several of the haiku Basho wrote on the Sumida River have been printed on text boards standing along a path skirting the river in Tokyo’s Koto Ward. This is the part of Tokyo where Basho lived since 1680, a fact commemorated in the Basho Museum, which also stands here. Thanks to the Oedo line, access […]
Posted in writing and poetry, haiku on Oct 11th, 2006 No Comments »
Issa (1763-1828) was born in Kashiwabara, in the snow country in the north of present-day Nagano and was a devout follower of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. He led a life full of misfortunes and poverty, but his haiku often describe the simple joys he also found. Issa is famous for his empathy with small animals, even […]
Posted in writing and poetry, haiku on Oct 3rd, 2006 No Comments »
fallen kaki leaves
under my feet
I visit Entsuji
kaki rakuba | fumite tazunenu | Entsuji
Kyoshi
Entsuji Temple boasts one of the most secluded and fine gardens of Kyoto, and the strict priest keeps photographers and loud groups of sightseers at a distance.
[Kaki tree in Ueda, Nagano]
The modern haiku poet Kyoshi also visited Entsuji, in autumn, when the area […]