In Memoriam

 

It is a great pity that Dr. Mineo NAKAJIMA (中嶋嶺雄), a distinguished international sociologist and president of Akita International University, passed away in Akita City, Japan, on Thursday, 14th of February, 2013.  Having a profound interest in haiku, he supported the activities of Akita International Haiku Network as adviser.  With deep gratitude for his contribution to the Network, let me dedicate five in memoriam short poems (短歌) to his soul, as below.

 

Minoru KONO (幸野 稔), Chief Director,

Akita International Haiku Network

 

Here is a photo of Dr. Mineo Nakajima taken at Akita International University.

 

 SONY DSC

 

Here are five in memoriam short poems (短歌) to his soul.

 

 

外大生のデモを率いて旗振りし先輩の(せな)眩しかりけり

 

How dazzling was the back

Of my senior schoolmate,

Who carried a flag and led

The demonstration of students

Of our alma mater in Tokyo!

 

 

国際人育成の道求め来て秋田に果てぬ大先学は

 

Pursuing the way

Of global education

At university,

The great senior academic

Has met his end here in Akita.

 

 

道半ばに逝ける国際教養大学長送りて吹雪くわがまち

 

Alas, the president

Of Akita International

University

Has abruptly passed away

From our town with the snowstorm!

 

 

小学英語導入を熱く語らいし学長室にもはや主なき

 

Our passionate talks

On the teaching of English

At elementary school

Will no longer be exchanged

In your vacant office.

 

 

先学の遺志継ぎて英語能力を伸ばすべし

わが秋田の子らの

 

Inheriting the will

Of the late senior academic,

Why shouldn’t we develop

The English abilities

Of students here in Akita?

 

 

 

Here is a message on Dr. Mineo Nakajima’s demise, written by Mr. Mark Williams, Vice President and Trustee at Akita International University.

 

From: <facultyandstaffsupport@aiu.ac.jp>
Date: 2013/2/19
Subject:
中嶋学長御逝去のお知らせ
/President Nakajima Passed Away
To:

 

卒業生各位

在学生各位

教職員各位

 

敬はれ

凛と飛翔や

雪の槍

 

uyamaware

rin to hisho ya

yuki no yari

 

中嶋嶺雄理事長・学長が、病気療養中のところ、2月14日(水)午後10時26分に、肺炎のため秋田市内の病院にて御逝去されましたので謹んでお知らせいたします。

御葬儀は昨日2月18日(月)都内の御自宅にて家族葬が行われました。

 

「教育効果、卒業生の活躍がわかる10年後に答えを出します。」

国際教養大学が開学する1年前の2003年5月10日付けの朝日新聞で中嶋学長は上記のように新設大学設立の意気込みを語っておられました。

 

「国際舞台で通用する人材を地方で育てる、現代の松下村塾にしたい」という学長の強い想いは10年を待たずに現実のものとなり、日本の高等教育に大きな影響力をもつ大学が秋田の地に根付きました。  

最近まで精力的に活動をし、次の新たな構想をたくさん抱えた学長にとっては10年目を迎える前の早すぎる旅立ちであり、創設者という大きな存在を亡くし、残念でなりません。

しかしながら、残された私たち学生・卒業生・教職員に託された課題は、学長の理念、熱意、意思、先見性を引き継ぎ、将来に向かって国際教養大学を益々発展させることであり、それこそが、学長に対する最大で最高の弔いになるものと思います。

 

なお、大学葬を3月17日(日)13時より本学多目的ホールにて執り行ないますので、お知らせいたします。

 

また、学長の奥様より次のようなメッセージをいただいております。

 

「中嶋の心は、常に、深く、学生の皆様と共にありました。在校生の卒業式ならびに全国から受験して入学してくる新入生の入学式を、毎年どれだけ楽しみにしていたことか!キャンパス近くにて闘病しておりましたのも皆様の側にいたい、という想いだったからです。

次世代のリーダーを育成したい、学生たちの力で世界一の大学にしたい、と家族がびっくりするようなことを申しておりました。

国際教養大学は中嶋が命がけで育てた大学です。これまでの皆様の御協力に心より感謝いたします。」

 

理事兼副学長 

マーク・ウィリアムズ

 

Dear Graduates, Students, Faculty and Staff members:

 

敬はれ

凛と飛翔や

雪の槍

 

uyamaware

rin to hisho ya

yuki no yari

 

 It is my sad duty to report to you that President Nakajima passed away in an Akita hospital on Thursday, February 14, 10:26 pm following a short battle with pneumonia.

 A family funeral was held on Monday, February 18, at his home in Tokyo.

 

 As the President said in an article in the Asahi Shimbun on May 10, 2003, one year before the founding of AIU: “We will only be able to judge this new university in 10 years time when we can see the success of our educational philosophy and the achievement of our graduates.”

 

 The President’s strong passion for education can be seen in his remark, “I want to make AIU into a modern-day Shokasonjuku (a famous school of Yamaguchi prefecture in the late Edo period) where we can nurture in this local environment people who can operate on the global stage.” It is no exaggeration to say that this dream has been achieved in less than 10 years and that a university which has already became influential on the national stage has taken root here in Akita.

 Until recently, the President was active in all areas of University life, full of new ideas, and passionate about the future direction of the University. The founder of this University is no longer with us to continue his work and we can only express our sadness that his activity has been cut short by his sudden passing.

 However, it is our duty, as students, graduates, faculty and staff members of AIU, to seek to continue the President’s vitality and insight, and to continue to develop AIU into the future. That is the best way for us to ensure his legacy.

 

 A University Memorial Ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 17 from 1 pm in the AIU Multi-Purpose Hall. This will be an open ceremony to which all are invited.

 

 We have received the following message from Mrs. Nakajima.

“My husband’s thoughts were always close to his students. How he used to look forward to graduation and matriculation ceremonies where he could welcome his students from all over Japan! That is why he chose to be hospitalized near the campus.

 As his family, we were often surprised to hear him taking about ‘nurturing the next generation of leaders’ and ‘making AIU into the number one University in the world with students’ help’.”

 AIU is a university into which my husband devoted all his energies. I should like to express my sincere gratitude to you all for your help up to this point.”

 

 

 Vice President and Trustee

Mark Williams

 

 

Here is an English interpretation of haiku in the above message, which was given by Hidenori Hiruta(蛭田秀法).

 

 

The Reverend Mineo Nakajima

ascending the heavens in valiance

beyond Mount Yari in snow

 

 

Here is a photo of Mount Yari in snow.

 

 雪の槍

 

Dr. Mineo Nakajima led us haiku poets in Akita as honorary president of Akita International Haiku Association.

 

Here are two haiku composed to offer our condolences on Dr. Mineo Nakajima’s death.

 

The first haiku was composed by Jin Wada(和田仁), president of Akita International Haiku Association.

 

 

羽の国も淋しからむや鳥雲に   仁

 

The land of ‘U

feels lonely too –

the bird into the clouds

 

*  (U)’  is the old name of Akita (秋田).

 

 

The last one was written by Hidenori Hiruta(蛭田秀法).

 

 

雪の嶺尊師の教へ遺りけり   秀法

 

The snowy peak –

The Reverend  Mineo Nakajima leaving behind

His teachings

 

 

May Dr. Mineo Nakajima’s soul rest in peace!

 

 

The next posting ‘Haiku in “My loved Japan” by Clelia Ifrim (1)appears on March 23.

 

― Hidenori Hiruta

 

 

On February 29, I happened to see ten swans in the sun at the bank of the Omono River (雄物川) in Akita prefecture (秋田県).  It was such a peaceful view. The swans enjoyed themselves on a fine early spring day.

 

Here are photos and haiku about swans.

 

 

 

春の岸白鳥の群れ舞ひ降りる    秀法

 

a flight of swans

have a break there –

the spring bank        Hidenori 

 

 

白鳥の帰る日近し雄物川               秀法

 

the day nearing

for swans to leave –

the Omono River              Hidenori

 

 

Manisha Kundu-Nagata in Akita prefecture tells us about Swans’ Stay in Japan in her blog.

Please check it out, and you will know about it better..

 

http://lipikazuo.blogspot.com/2010/12/swans-in-sakata.html

 

 

On March 6, Patricia Lidia in Romania, kindly presented photo haiku about winter to us. 

 She  also introduced to us Mrs. Hrisi Udrescu, a great photographer, who presented her photos to us. 

Here are their photo haiku.

 

 

 

初雪 ―

微風が揺り動かす

枝の陰を

 

 

 

二人で歩く―

凍て付いたバラが一本

暖かい手の中に

 

 

 

孤独なモミの木 ―

先端のとがった葉の間で

雪片に指で触れている

 

 

 

まばらな稲妻 ―

珍しい

滴のつぶやきのように

 

 

 

小さな足跡

日没に ―

凍った雪

 

 

 

降り続く雪 ―

星の光の下で

山間をさまっている

 

 

On March 7,  KONO Minoru(幸野稔) in Akita prefecture contributed his haibun to us in his e-mail as follows.

 

Composed on the first of March           KONO Minoru  

        早春詠                               幸野 稔

 

At the main campus of Akita University, you can find a stone tablet on which is inscribed a haiku by Dr. YAMAGUCHI Kichiro, or Seison (山口吉郎) (俳号:青邨) (1892 – 1988), a renowned mining scientist and haiku poet.  I dropped in at it on the first of March and found it coming out of a heap of snow.

 

句碑の文字浮かし流るる雪解水

 

Haiku tablet –

The inscription watered

By melting snow.

 

Then I happened to meet Dr. NIINO Naoyoshi (新野直吉) (1925 –  ), a distinguished scholar in ancient Japanese history and former President of Akita University.  I enjoyed a chat with him for a while and saw him off.  I felt happy to find him as fine as ever.

 

春光を浴びて去り行く老大師

 

Great old scholar

Walking steadily away

In the spring sun.

 

Later, I made a lunch suggestion to my wife and went out with her.

 

弥生立ち妻と昼餉に出で行かん

 

March opening –

Let’s dine out together,

My dear wife!

 

Everything was a happy start for spring.

 

 

Lastly, let me post haiku and photos by Saori Taniuchi and Takuya Matsuzawa, who studied about haiku and learned to write haiku at the class by Alexander Dolin, PhD, Professor of Japanese Literature and Civilization Studies at Akita International University(国際教養大学). 

 

Saori Taniuchi contributed the works of haiku and photos to us in November, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 Takuya Matsuzawa also contributed his haiku to us in November, 2011.

 

ほろほろと 桜紅葉が 秋を呼ぶ

 

One after another…

The bloom of early cherry leaves

the silent call of autumn

 

秋蜻蛉 幼心を 思いだす

 

The autumn dragonfly

Memories of childhood days

echoing through its wings…

 

鳥兜 ほのかに放つ 毒の蒼

 

The blue of Aconite

Shining brightly, poisonously…

waiting for its prey

 

彷徨し 紅葉かつ散る 何思う

 

Wandering about…

The leaves that stay, the leaves that fall

What are in their minds?

 

 

萩が散り 夜風が不意に 胸を刺す

 

The falling Lespedeza leaves

A sudden blow of nightfall wind

piercing through the heart

 

 

The next posting ‘Haiku by Ramesh Anand, Malaysia’ appears on March 17.

 

― Hidenori Hiruta

 

 

Kamakura Snow Festival(かまくら) is held in Yokete city, Akita prefecture(秋田県), Northern Honshu, Japan on February 15th-16th every year.

It is a fantastic world appearing on a snow country evening, where children enjoy chatting in rooms made of snow.

 

Here are photos and haiku about Kamakura Snow Festival 

 

 

 

羽後の国かまくらの灯の点りけり                 秀法

Ugo no kuni  Kamakura no hi no  tomori keri

 

Kamakura, snow hut

has candles lighted on –

Akita – the land of poetry               Hidenori

 

 

 

かまくらの星座の如き光かな        秀法 

Kamkura no  seiza no gokotki  hikari kana

 

Kamakura, snow huts

shining –

a constellation                         Hidenori

 

 

 

甘酒にかまくらの神酔い痴れる                  秀法

amazake ni  Kamakura no kami  yoishireru

 

god of Kamakura

gets drunk –

amazake, sweet rice drink               Hidenori  

 

 

Manisha Kundu-Nagata in Akita prefecture tells us about Kamakura snow festival in her blog.

 

Please check it out, and you will know about Kamakura better..

http://lipikazuo.blogspot.com/2009/02/kamakura-snow-festival-in-yokote.html

 

 

Lastly, let me post haiku and photos by Janessa and Cecilie Guldbrandsen, who studied about haiku and learned to write haiku at the class by Alexander Dolin, PhD, Professor of Japanese Literature and Civilization Studies at Akita International University(国際教養大学). 

 

Janessa contributed the works of haiku and photos to us in November, 2011.

 

 

蒸気がグラスから立ちのぼる

だけど風が吹き始める

飲めるだろうか?

 

 

 

葉で一杯の川

滝に近づく

それからきれいになるわ

 

 

 

茶色の葉が散り

川の中に落ちるとき

忘れられてしまう

 

 

 

実を結ばない森

枯葉が地上で眠っている

冬が来るだろう

 

 

 

落葉のように

風の中でくるくる回り転がり落ちる

人生行路

 

 

Cecilie Guldbrandsen also contributed the works of haiku and photos to us in November, 2011.

 

Colorful ballet

Written in the air

Gracefully

 

色とりどりのバレエ

空に書かれるように舞う

優雅に

 

Dreaming earth

Breathing the hymn

Of lonely trees

 

夢見る地

賛美歌をささやいている

孤独な木々の

 

Strange chestnut

Roasted in yellow sun

On bare ground

 

風変わりな栗の実

黄色の太陽で焼かれている

むきだしの地面で

 

Leaves rustling

Surrounding patient trees

Wind dancing

 

葉がさらさらと音を立てている

我慢強い木々を取り巻いている

風が踊っている

 

Naked trees shivering

Getting ready for

A new winter coat

 

葉の散った木々が震えている

準備を調えている

新しい冬のコートに

 

 

The next posting ‘For New Year 2012 (9)’ appears on March 3.

 

― Hidenori Hiruta

 

 

Namahage-Sedo Festival なまはげ柴灯まつりtakes place in Shinzan shrine (真山神社)in Oga city , Akita prefecture(秋田県), Northern Honshu, Japan, the second Friday through the second Sunday of February every year.

This festival is carried out as a tourist event that combines the Shinto shrine Sedo festival and the Namahage folk festival.

 Here is a photo of the Namahage-Sedo Festival.

Photo courtesy: as per original copyright at:

http://www.michinokugodai.com/oga01.html

 

 

 

真山やなまはげ降りる柴灯祭り        秀法

Shinzan ya  Namahage oriru  sedo matsuri

 

Namahage ogres

descend from Mount Shinzan

the Namahage-Sedo festival              Hidenori

 

なまはげの初恋の地や男鹿半島        秀法

Namahage no  hatsukoi no chi ya  Oga hanto

 

Namahage ogre

falls in first love

the Oga Peninsula                       Hidenori

 

Here is another photo of the Namahage-Sedo Festival.

Photo courtesy: as per original copyright at:

http://do-yo.at.webry.info/201002/article_3.html

 

 

 

なまはげの炎の如き思ひかな               秀法

Namahage no  honoo no gotoki  omoi kana

 

Namahage ogre

falls in love

like a flame                             Hidenori

 

 

Manisha Kundu-Nagata in Akita prefecture tells us about Namahage Festival in her blog.

http://lipikazuo.blogspot.com/2009/04/namahage-museum.html

 

Dr. Gabi Greve in Okayama prefecture also tells us about this festival in her blog.

http://fudosama.blogspot.com/2005/02/oni-japanese-demons.html

Please check them out, and you will know about Namahage Festival better.

 

 

On February 15, Patricia Lidia in Romania contributed Haibun: Love to us.

It’s blizzard, but that does not spoil the joy of the young lovers. Her dress matches the snow freshly sprawled and on her shoulders she is wearing his coat. It’s cold, but the joy of the moment warms his soul and he makes him forget that they are walking on a bridge of ice. They look at each other like in the first day they have met, long and meaningful. Back then it was cold and it was snowing just as now, but that did not count, the alleys parks were their only witnesses.

 

 walk in two-

the frozen snowdrop

in her warm hand

 

二人で歩く ―

凍ったスノードロップ

彼女の暖かな手の中に

 

The snow does not change their plans. It is their special day, only they matter. Only them and the future.

 

stealthily glances -

in the priest’s crown

past and future

 

盗み見る ―

司祭の冠の中に

過去と未来

 

Today the entire nature celebrates with them. It snows with large flakes that become small ice crystals between her eyelids. With his fingers, he wipes the flakes from her face. “I am happy as I haven’t been in a long time”, he says, smiling, “and if it is a dream, well, I do not ever want to wake up to our common reality… “She put down in the snow the bouquet of camellias, and approached him, kissing him in silence.

 

frozen lake -

on the bridal bouquet

a sparrow

 

凍った湖―

花嫁の花束に

一羽の雀

 

 

Lastly, let me post haiku and photos by Kyra Roybal and Scott Ruddell, who studied about haiku and learned to write haiku at the class by Alexander Dolin, PhD, Professor of Japanese Literature and Civilization Studies at Akita International University(国際教養大学). 

 

Kyra Roybal contributed the works of haiku and photos to us in November, 2011.

 

 

 

降りしきる雪片が舞う

星のかけらのように

果てしない白景色

 

 

 

むきだしの骨の髄まで、冷たい

芽が骸骨のような枝に

いのちが新たに始まる

 

 

 

雲が暑さに身を切られる

よどんだ一日が中断する

雷が鳴りほっと安心

 

 

 

やさしく漂い舞い降りる

風に吹かれる全ての色

着地しながらサラサラ鳴る

 

 

 

絶え間なく時間は変わる

生、死、自然の一部

果てしない循環

 

 

Scott Ruddell also contributed the works of haiku and photos to us in November, 2011.

 

木の下が

清い紅葉で

染められる

 

Underneath the tree, the pure autumn colors paint the ground.

 

曇りの日

雨が木の葉と

ともに降る

 

On a cloudy day, the leaves fall with the rain.

 

 

Past the open lake

The mountains cannot be seen

Hidden by thick fog

 

広々とした湖

山々は見えない

濃い霧に隠れている

 

Last days of autumn

Waiting for the snow to come

To turn the trees white

 

晩秋の日々

雪が降るのを待っている

木々が白く変わるのを

 

As the days get cool

Cicadas no longer sing

Surely fall has come

 

日に日に涼しくなる

セミはもはや鳴かない

きっと秋になったのだ

 

The next posting ‘For New Year 2012 (8)’ appears on February 25.

 

― Hidenori Hiruta

 

 

Here is a photo of the Omono River(雄物川) in Akita prefecture (秋田県), Northern Honshu, Japan.

The photo was taken at the riverbank at the end of January.

 

 

 

氷結に鯉のまどろむ北の川         秀法

hyouketsu ni  koi no madoromu  kita no kawa

 

a sheet of ice

keeps carp in repose

northern rivers                       Hidenori

 

 

This haiku appears in the following blog on February 7.

http://akitahaiku.blogspot.com/

 

Lastly, let me post haiku and photos by Michael Todd, Ruth Ashworth, and Gaby Meindl, who studied about haiku and learned to write haiku at the class by Alexander Dolin, PhD, Professor of Japanese Literature and Civilization Studies at Akita International University(国際教養大学). 

 

Michael Todd contributed the works of haiku and photos to us in November, 2011.

 

 

 

一羽の重々しいカラスが鳴く

赤は今や白で覆われた、

雪が音もなく降る

 

 

世界は花盛り、

美しい桜が舞い踊る、

冬に別れを告げながら

 

 

疲れた波が浜辺にひたひたと打ち寄せる、

太陽が悼みながら照りつける、

近くで犬が一匹吠える

 

 

紅い葉があせて散る、

冷たい風が荒れ狂いながら吹いてくる、

雨の匂い

 

 

 

夜の暗いベール、

町はプリント基盤のようになる、

雲が月の上に漂う

 

 

Ruth Ashworth also contributed the works of haiku to us in November, 2011.

 

 

 

 

足下で踏みつぶされて

金色の葉が塵になる

風が吹き飛ばす

 

 

 

滝のそばで

葉が蝶のように舞い降りる

夏が続いているけれども

 

 

 

窓の外側では

緑がこはく色に変わっている

秋はいつ来たのかしら?

 

 

 

まるで地球が血を流しているみたい

復活の前に

何もかも赤い

 

 

 

この落葉は

他のものの中で人目につくかしら

この森のフロアで?

 

 

Gaby Meindl also contributed the works of haiku to us in November, 2011.

 

An onomatopoeia

Whoosh, crickle, crack, crunch

 

一つのオノマトペア

ヒュー、カチッ、パン、バリッ

 

For this haiku, I wanted to incorporate a really challenging word, such an onomatopoeia, and then built the rest of the haiku around it.  It’s about the sounds of crunching leaves during fall.

 

Basked in the sunlight

A lone daisy among weeds

Growing and growing

 

日光を浴び暖まり

雑草のなかの一本のヒナギク

どんどん伸びていく

 

This haiku is about the spring when flowers begin to bloom.  There are often big patches of grass with very few flowers, or very small flowers, but sometimes there is one strong, big flower among the weeds that always astounds me as to the speed it grew.

  

Wrenitt birds perch high

Their cheeps pierce the empty skies

All others flown south

 

ミソサザイが高いところにとまる

鳴く声が虚空をつんざく

他の鳥は皆南へ飛んで行った

 

Wrenitts are sedentary birds from the American pacific coast.  They do not migrate south, but many birds do, so this is a haiku about their loneliness during winter.

 

Drunk off the sunlight

Trees blush in vivid pink hues

Sakura bloom free

 

日光に酔いしれて

木々は鮮やかなピンク色に赤らむ

桜の花が惜しみなく咲く

 

The pink colors of sakura have been compared to a lot of things, so I wanted to try something I have never heard them compared to before, drunkenness.  Many people have a tendency to get a reddish or pink hue to their skin while drinking, much like the pink of a sakura tree.

 

 

The next posting ‘For New Year 2012 (7)’ appears on February 18.

 

― Hidenori Hiruta

 

On January 15, 2012, Shinzan shrine naked pilgrimage festival 新山神社裸まいり : shinzan jinja hadaka mairi was held in Yurihonjo city (由利本荘市)of Akita prefecture(秋田県), Northern Honshu, Japan.

 

 

 

 

新山や雪の参道裸者登る       秀法

Shinzan ya  yukino sando  rasha noboru

 

naked men

climb the snowy approach –

Shinzan shrine                     Hidenori

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manisha Kundu-Nagata says in her blog Life with hubby as follows.

The Hadaka Mairi (pilgrimage) Matsuri is a winter festival where naked men brave the cold and snow and proceed to a rather distant Shinzan shrine. The naked men carry offerings to the shrine by walking through the snow. There are different opinions and sayings regarding the origin of the Hadaka Mairi Matsuri. One of the stories is that shugensha monks protected the Shinzan shrine by walking naked as a form of ascetic training and practice. Shugendo is an ancient Japanese religion in which enlightenment or oneness with god is obtained through the study of the relationship between man and nature. It is centered on an ascetic, mountain-dwelling lifestyle and incorporates teachings from koshinto, buddhism, and other eastern philosophies including folk animism. Monks following shugendo religion are known as shugensha. The monks prayed for the toughness of body, the safety of homes, the happiness of the families, and bumper crops in the fields. Every year the monks went to the shrine to display in front of the god the results of their training, practice, and the growth of their mind and body.

You will get familiar with the festival through the following blog.

http://lipikazuo.blogspot.com/2009/02/shinzan-shrine-naked-pilgrimage.html

 

 

Lastly, let me post haiku and photos by Corinne Kinvig, Sabrina Ketcherside, and Charlotte Regnier, who studied about haiku and learned to write haiku at the class by Alexander Dolin, PhD, Professor of Japanese Literature and Civilization Studies at Akita International University(国際教養大学). 

 

Corinne Kinvig contributed the works of haiku and photos to us in November, 2011.

 

 

 

秋にしがみつく

雨の滴が赤い葉から落ちる

自然の涙のように

 

 

 

冬の太陽が昇る

むきだしの殺風景な陸地に

再び春になるのはいつかしら

 

 

羊が野原で前脚をあげて跳びはねる

スイセンの花の中に生まれたばかり

春の芳香

 

 

 

再び夏がやって来た

赤い顔をした子供たちが浜辺で遊ぶ

太陽の光線が彼らを喜ばせている

 

 

英国の夏季

8月になり雨傘を用意する

雨が踊り始める時

 

 

Sabrina Ketcherside also contributed the works of haiku to us in November, 2011.

 

 

 

秋たけなわ

リスたちは皆どこへ行ったのかしら

ドングリには住む家がない

 

 

 

葉が風に吹かれている

秋の音が聞こえる

秋のダンスが始まる

 

 

 

葉が色を変える

黄色、赤、そしてオレンジの色合い

暖かい感じのカンバス

 

 

葉が落ちる、りんごが落ちる

収穫の時が始まる

各家々ではごちそう

 

 

 

枝が裸になる

ほんの少しだけまだ残っている

冷気が皮膚からしみ込む

 

 

Charlotte Regnier also contributed the works of haiku to us in November, 2011.

 

 

 

心地よい風が木々に

共に揺り動かそう

メロディーのように

 

 

オレンジ、赤、黄色、

深紅色の葉が火のように

森を輝かした

 

 

 

葉が地上に散っている

色彩の豊かな棺のように

きのこの匂い

 

 

 

色彩のに富んだ花々

徐々に雪の覆い

冬の翌朝

 

 

 

唯一の理由

寒い冬の復活

白い雪と新しい層

 

 

The next posting ‘For New Year 2012 (5)’ appears on February 4.

 

Hidenori Hiruta

 

 

 Francis Tugayé, a French artist, kindly sent me a New Year’s e-mail on January 7 as follows.

Dear Hidenori San

That, through the misty areas, your eyes perceive the best.
“Uncertainty” overrides the people all filled with their certainties.

Let us be both realistic and (a little) dreamer…

and that the year of the dragon protects the Japan

Best wishes
Francis Tugayé
dit “Sixfrancs Six Sous Sans Soucis”  

Bourgeons sous la neige

To my much delight, Francis Tugayé also kindly presented me with his haiku as well as a painting by Graziella Dupuy, a French artist.

 

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!
That your eyes go well beyond the mists…

新年おめでとう、2012年!

霧の向こうをよく見よう!

 

 

Ramesh Anand , a haiku poet based in Johor, Malaysia, writes the following haiku on January 6.

 

New Year dawn –

memories of mother

praying loud

 

新年の夜明け ―

母の思い出

大きな声で祈っている

 

New Year’s Eve

rangoli patterns

in the street

 

大晦日

ランゴリの模様

通りに

 

New Year’s Eve

dotting sandalwood paste

into my new dress

 

大晦日

ペースト状の白檀を点々とつける

新しいドレスに

 

 

Raj K. Bose, a haiku poet based in Honolulu, HI, USA., writes the following haiku on January 18.

 

In the bamboo grove

Under the vigilant sun

Spring breeze tries to hide

 

竹林の中

油断のない太陽の下

春風が隠れようとする

 

Missing a slipper!

Muddy pawprints leading to

The monsoon garden

 

スリッパがなくて困っている!

泥だらけのかぎつめの足跡が続いている

モンスーンの庭に

 

Housewives gossiping

Knitting shawls in unison

Without an error!

 

主婦たちがうわさ話をしている

いっせいにショールを編んでいる

間違いなく!

 

Sudden haiku mood!

A single fly relaxing

On my only pen…

 

突然俳句を詠みたい気分に!

ただ一匹のハエがくつろいでいる

私のたった一本のペンの上で...

 

 

Lastly, let me post haiku and photos by Pamela Fernandez and Alina Varvarici, who studied about haiku and learned to write haiku at the class by Alexander Dolin, PhD, Professor of Japanese Literature and Civilization Studies at Akita International University(国際教養大学). 

 

Pamela Fernandez contributed the works of haiku and photos to us in November, 2011.

 

澄んだちっぽけな露の滴

疲れ切った葉の最後の数枚に光沢をつけている

とてもしっかりと付着して

 

 

上には氷のような靄

足下には落ち葉

乾いて、金色で、そしてカリカリしている

 

 

 

オレンジ、黄色、緑

この光景の色だ

視覚的には暖かい

 

 

 

ただ一つの三日月

常緑樹を見渡す

落ち葉の間で

 

 

 

カメムシがやって来た

グシャっと押しつぶしなさい、そうするとこうむるだろう

刺すようなにおいを 

 

 

Alina Varvarici also contributed the works of haiku to us in November, 2011.

 

 

 

村が活気にあふれている

頬を赤くした子供たちが走っている

秋の収穫

 

静かな森の中

そこには、猟師の他に誰もいない

一匹の狐がすばやく走っている

 

 

 

日はもう短い

赤い空と共に

今や、秋は来た

 

 

 

夜は長くなった

日はすでに存在しない

窓の背後の葉

 

 

 

The next posting ‘For New Year 2012 (4)’ appears on January 28.

 

Hidenori Hiruta

 

 

 

Firstly, let me post haiku and photos by Julia Maul, who studied about haiku and learned to write haiku at the class by Alexander Dolin, PhD, Professor of Japanese Literature and Civilization Studies at Akita International University(国際教養大学). 

 

Julia Maul contributed the works of haiku and photos to us in November, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

秋が今来たところだ

葉が紅くなる

寒風から気を紛らせながら

 

 

雪が降り続ける

瞬く間に木々に降り積もる

素晴らしい景色

 

 

 

人里離れた一軒の家

雪でまた覆われている

冬が去るまで

 

 

 

冬の風が吹く

外は寒く凍りついている、ああ

太陽は戻ってこないだろう

 

 

 太陽が高く昇る

あの早春の朝に

動物が戻って来る

  

Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu, a haiku friend in Romania, kindly sent me her message through facebook on December 29, 2011, as follows:

Dear Hidenori San, I wish a Happy New Year and I send you one of my New Year photo postcard. All my best regards, Cristina Moldoveanu

 

New Year’s Day

the whole family

binds together

 

元日 ―

家族全員

結ばれる

 

Haiku by Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu appears in Asahi Haikuist Network by David McMurray on December 30, 2011.

Growing old
in an ever-changing world–
New Year’s clouds

 

年を取る

絶えず変わり行く世界で ―

新年の雲


In the notebook David McMurray says as follows:

Haikuists sigh in relief at the end of the year. Feeling tired from waiting to see the first sunrise of the year, Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu takes solace in watching continuously moving cloud formations.              http://www.asahi.com/english/haiku/111230.html

 

Ramesh Anand , a haiku poet based in Johor, Malaysia, writes the following haiku on December 31, 2011.

 

Candle light ― 

my grandma

lets out her lore

 

ろうそくの光―

おばあちゃんが

言い伝えを披露する

 

first meeting…

a candle light bonds

our shadows

 

最初の集まり ―

ろうそくの光がつなぐ

私たちの影を

 

winter bolt…

the candle array

collapses in a flash

 

冬の稲妻...

並んでいたろうそく

一瞬のうちにくずれる

 

Julian Brescanu in Republic of Moldova contributed his tanka to us in 2011.

Julian says about himself as follows: 

Julian Brescanu, male, born 1968, live in Republic of Moldova, currently work as an organist at the Lutheran church, Chişinău. My main interests are poetry and music. I write poetry and prose as a hobby in different languages. Sometimes I compose music. A great appeal has for me Japanese culture, especially Japanese literature. I try to use traditional genres of Japanese poetry in my works, for example haiku, tanka, haibun.
Sincerely,
Julian Brescanu
 

 

a jetplane unseen
leaving a long shining trail
on the evening sky
perhaps nobody is up
for feeling lonely

 

見えないジェット機

輝く長い跡を残して

夕方の空に

恐らく誰も起きていないでしょう

孤独感のために

one day last summer
a large compact cloud hung low
over the next door house
as though a torn piece of sky
had descended close to earth

 

昨夏のある日

大きくまとまった雲が下にかかっていた

隣の家の上に

まるで千切れた空の一片が

地にぴったり降りたかのように

 

for the thousandth time
again down this narrow path
hurrying to work
past these charming willow trees
admiring their quiescence

 

千回も

再びこの狭い小道を下って

仕事に急ぐ

このすばらしい柳の木々を通り過ぎ

沈静に感心しながら


pencil on paper
I poise confused, unable
to transmit the sense
this evening is so much like
all other evnings and yet..

 

紙の上の鉛筆

構えてはいるが、混乱し、できない

その感覚を伝えることが

今宵はとってもそんな感じのようだ

他の全ての宵のようだ それでもやはり..


a spring day`s radience
busy people hurrying on
having cell phone talks
feeling themselves great in things
not knowing they are petty

 

春日の輝き

多忙な人たちが急いでいる

携帯電話で話をしながら

自分が大物であると感じながら

小物であることを分からないで

 

The next posting ‘For New Year 2012 (3)’ appears on January 21.

 

Hidenori Hiruta

 

 

First of all, let me post a Christmas present from Mr. Francis Tugaye, a haiku friend in France, who is an artist and loves Japanese cultures so much.  

Here is a photo of Francis’ art.

 

Secondly, let me post the last article of AIU festival 2011 , missing the autumn in 2011.

 On October 9 and 10, 2011, AIU Festival was held at Akita International University(国際教養大学)in Akita prefecture(秋田県), Northern Honshu, Japan.

The festival, whose theme is HOOP ~世界とハチあわせ!~, had 3Philosophies : Academic(学問), Culture(文化), and Entertainment(楽しさ).

 

The AIU students enjoyed the festival in their own ways.

They gave their cultural activities to enjoy a variety of meetings, HOOP ~世界とハチあわせ!in the festival.

Here are some photos of those activities.

 

 

Some of the students from overseas started preparing for the AIU festival in July for the purpose of making the Haiga postcard charity sale.

They enjoyed the haiga workshops, sometimes visiting the haiku tablets.

 

They donated money to those who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Some Romanian haiku poets also donated their haiga or haiku to the AIU festival in order to show their condolences, prayers, or hopes through the exhibition to the Japanese people.

Ms. Patricia Lidia in Romania kindly sent her haiku on September 6.

 

She also kindly sent the haiku for 2012 by Mrs. Ioana Dinescu and the art work by Mrs. Constanta Erca to me on December 20.

Here is a photo of their art work.

 

a rainbow between

Christmas and New Year’s Eve

red, green, white, cinnamon…

 

クリスマスと大晦日の間に ―

赤、緑、白、シナモン...

 

Last of all, let me post Patricia Lidia’s haiku about winter in her haiku book.

 

Alei bătătorite

Old path

Alten Gassen

古いパス

 

Traducere:

Limba engleză: Patricia Lidia

Limba germană: Beatrix-Edith Sontag

Limba japoneză: Hidenori Hiruta

Translation:

English: Patricia Lidia

German: Beatrix-Edith Sontag

Japanese: Hidenori Hiruta

Übersetzung:

Englisch: Patricia Lidia

Deutsch: Beatrix-Edith Sontag

Japanisch: Hidenori Hiruta

翻訳:

英語: Patricia Lidia

ドイツ語: Beatrix-Edith Sontag

日本語: Hidenori Hiruta(蛭田秀法)

Consiliere artistică/Artistic advice/künstlerische Rat/

芸術評議会:

Ioan GĂBUDEAN

An’ya

 

IARNA

WINTER

WINTER

 

de mână prin parc,

pe-aleile bătrâne -

urme în omăt

 

holding hands

in park on old paths –

traces in the snow

 

Hand zu Hand im Park,

auf den alten Gassen –

Spuren im Schnee

 

公園で手をつなぐ

古い散歩道―

雪に足跡

 

bate clopotul -

iarna se aşterne iar

peste suflete

 

the bell rings –

winter is falling once again

over the living souls

 

die Glocke läutet –

der Winter verweit wieder

über den Seelen.

 

鐘が鳴る―

冬がまた訪れる

生きている魂に

 

troiene albe

pe marginea drumului –

un nou început

 

snowdrifts

on the road side –

a new beginning

 

Schneeverwehungen

am Rande des Weges –

ein neuer Anfang.

 

雪の吹きだまり

道路脇に―

新しい始まり

 

o căprioară

peste câmpul înălbit –

odihnă în zori

 

a deer

over the white field –

rests at dawn

 

ein Hirsch

am weissen Feld –

ruht im Morgen

 

一頭の鹿

白い野に―

夜明けに休む

 

noapte de iarnăce

frumos sună basmul

la gura sobei!

 

winter-night –

how beautiful a story sounds

at the fireside!

 

Winternacht –

wie schön hört man das Märchen

beim Ofen!

 

冬の夜―

物語は何て美しいのでしょう

炉端で!

 

poveşti cu zâne,

la gura sobei, iarna -

copilărie

 

winter night —

childhood fairy tales

at the fireside

 

Märchen mit Feen,

beim Ofen, im Winter –

Kindheit

 

冬は夜―

子供の頃のおとぎ話

炉端で

 

suspin de dragon

se aude din sobă –

vreascuri arzânde

 

a dragon-like sound

comes from the stove —

burning firewood

 

Seufzen eines Drachen

kommt aus dem Ofen

brennendes Holz

 

竜のような音

ストーブから出てくる―

燃えるまき

 

pălărie grea

pe casa bunicilor –

nea îngheţată

 

hats heaviness

on my grandparents’ house —

frozen snow

 

seine Schwere

auf dem Haus der Großeltern –

gefrorener Schnee

 

その重さ

祖父母の家の上―

凍結した雪

 

peste câmpul alb

trece un stol de ciori –

pete în amurg

 

over the white field

passing a flock of crows –

spots in the twilight

 

über dem weißen Feld

fliegt eine herde von Krähen –

Flecken in der Dämmerung

 

白い野を越えて

烏の群れが通過する―

薄明かりの中の斑点

 

stea căzătoare –

cautând prin troiene,

doar artificii

 

shooting star –

but searching through the snowdrifts,

only fireworks

 

Sternschnuppe –

aber suchend durch dem Schnee

nur Feuerwerk

 

流れ星―

しかし風に吹かれる雪を通り抜け、

単なる花火

 

prima zăpadă -

călătorul şi umbra

singuri pe munte

 

first snow –

a traveler and his dow

alone on the mountain

 

erster Schnee –

Reisender und Schatten sind

allein am Berg

 

初雪―

旅人と影

山の寂しさ

 

viscol năpraznic –

stelele căzătoare

luminând drumul

 

sudden snowstorm –

shooting stars

light up the road

 

plötzlicher Schneesturm –

Sternschnuppen

beleuchtend die Straße

 

突然の吹雪―

流れ星

道を照らす

 

prima nea în munţi -

călătorul ostenit

şi câinele său

 

first snow –

in the mountains a weary

traveler and his dog

 

erster Schnee

in den Bergen ein müde

Reisende und sein Hund

 

初雪―

山中の一人の疲れた

旅人と犬

 

în zori, numai alb –

sub lumina soarelui,

crizantemele

 

at dawn only white—

under the sunlight

chrysanthemums

 

weiß Sonnenaufgangim

Sonnenschein

Chrysanthemen

 

夜明けの白さ―

日光の下に

 

satul părăsit –

crucile strâmbe din deal,

cuib pentru păsări

 

deserted village –

crooked crosses on the hill,

a bird nest

 

verlassenes Dorf -

schiefe Kreuze auf dem Hügel,

ein Vogel Nest

 

人の住まない村―

丘の上に曲がった十字架

鳥の巣

 

noapte cu stele –

căzuţi la datorie

cocoşii dorm duşi

 

night of stars –

fallen at their duty

the cocks deep asleep

 

Nacht mit Sternen –

bei Pflicht gefallen,

die Hühner schlafen tief

 

星の夜―

任務が肩にかかる

おんどりは深く眠ってい

 

Wish you all a Happy New Year!

 

The next posting ‘Haiku for New Year 2012’ appears on January 7.

 

Hidenori Hiruta

 

 

On October 9 and 10, 2011, AIU Festival was held at Akita International University(国際教養大学)in Akita prefecture(秋田県), Northern Honshu, Japan.

The festival, whose theme is HOOP ~世界とハチあわせ!~, had 3Philosophies : Academic(学問), Culture(文化), and Entertainment(楽しさ).

 

The AIU students enjoyed the festival in their own ways.

They gave their cultural activities to enjoy a variety of meetings, HOOP ~世界とハチあわせ!in the festival.

Here are some photos of those activities.

 

 

Some of the students from overseas started preparing for the AIU festival in July for the purpose of making the Haiga postcard charity sale.

They enjoyed the haiga workshops, sometimes visiting the haiku museum.

 

They donated money to those who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Some Romanian haiku poets also donated their haiga or haiku to the AIU festival in order to show their condolences, prayers, or hopes through the exhibition to the Japanese people.

 

Mrs. Maria Tirenescu inRomania kindly sent her haiku through Ms. Patricia Lidia’s e-mail on August 30.

She also kindly sent me two Christmas pictures this morning.  

 Here are her photos.

 

 

Let me post the latter part of her hiaku.

 

A jump –
and the cat catches
the cricket

 

ひとっ飛び ―

そして猫が

コオロギをとらえる

 

Acacia in flower
in pitiless rain –
no bee  

 

花の中のアカシア

無慈悲な雨に打たれて ―

蜂は見えず


Song of crickets –
everybody listening
under the new moon

 

コオロギの鳴き声 ―

誰もが耳を傾けている

新月の下で

 

Autumn evening –
two children wrangle about
a firefly

 

秋の夕べ ―

子供が二人口論する

ホタルのことで

 

At daybreak –
the bird’s footmarks
on the snowing table

 

(First Prize Contest HAIKU magazine)

 

夜明け ―

小鳥の足跡

雪が降っているテーブルに

 

Leaves everywhere –
in the pitiless rain
the abandoned nest

 

(HAIKU magazine)

 

至る所に葉 ―

無慈悲な雨の中に

捨てられた巣

 

Winter vespers –

the hermitage of the valley
surrounded by ravens

 

冬の夕暮れ ―

谷の修道院

オオガラスに囲まれている

 

New Year concert –            
a boot without shoelace
         
at the broken paling
 

  
(“International Haiku New Year’s Festival 2011″)

 

ニュウ-イヤー・コンサート ―

靴ひものないブーツ

壊れたくいで

 

The brink of New Year –      
the woodpecker pecking
        
an old cherry tree

 

(“International Haiku New Year’s Festival 2011″)

 

新年間際 ―

キツツキがつついている

桜の古木を

 

Deserted village -­­

cherries are still falling­­

on the wooden bench­

 

(premiul Serban Codrin)

 

廃村 ―

サクランボがまだ落ちている

木製のベンチに

 

Poor sparrow!

No crust

in the rain…

 

(Haiku Reality)

 

かわいそうな雀!

パンの皮がない

雨の中で...

 

No cricket

in the moonless night –

only an old woman

 

(Haiku Reality)

 

コオロギがいない

月のでない夜 ―

たったひとりの老女

 

Translated into Japanese by Hidenori Hiruta

The next posting ‘Haiku from Romanian poets for AIU Festival 2011 (7)’ appears on December 31.

 

Hidenori Hiruta