On January 18, 2013, Professor David McMurray at the International University of Kagoshima（鹿児島国際大学）gave us haikuists such crucial information on Island Poetry Contest through his e-mail.
As you know, Professor David McMurray is the haiku selector and editor of the Asahi Haikuist Network column found in Friday edition of the International Herald Tribune Asahi Shimbun （ヘラルド朝日）and on the Internet at http://ajw.asahi.com/search/?q=haikuist.
Would you please read the following e-mail, and send in one more poem according to the guideline?
Dear Haikuist,
Thank you for kindly sharing your fine haiku with readers around the world.
Admiring your previous creative work, let me remind you that in 3 days, the Setouchi Matsuyama Photo haiku contest will close.
You can send in one more poem by clicking here:
http://matsuyamahaiku.jp/contest/eng/
The contest is supported by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, Asahi Culture Center and the city of Matsuyama.
There are 10 prizes… up to 30,000 yen for the champion.
Best wishes from Japan,
David McMurray
Enjoy:
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_japan/culture/AJ201301180034
http://ajw.asahi.com/tag/haiku
Recommended reading:
ajw.asahi.com/tag/haiku
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_japan/culture/AJ201301040016
Lastly, I sincerely hope that you will enjoy such a nice opportunity to share photo and haiku with each other.
The next posting ‘Haiku by Ramesh Anand (3)’ appears on January 19.
― Hidenori Hiruta
For New Year 2012 (2)
2012/01/14
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
About Japan-EU English Haiku Contest
2011/05/17
On May 17, one of my haiku mentors, Professor David McMurray at the International University of Kagoshima, sent me an e-mail about Japan-EU English Haiku Contest, suggesting to me that we should send haiku to the contest.
I hope that haikuists as well as my haikuist friends will never fail to submit haiku according to the applicant forms before May 23.
Firstly, let me post the e-mail here.
Dear Mr. Hidenori Hiruta My good Haikuist friend,
Thank you for your intriguing haiku for the Asahi Haikuist Network. I think you are busy assisting people hurt by the earthquake. When you have time and update your fine website for haikuists, Please let your haiku friends know that The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the European Union are calling on haikuists to write about the bonds of friendship. Prizes include trips to Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture and Brussels.
See www.facebook.com/haikucontest for more details and the application forms. There is no fee. I am one of the judges. You write such fine haiku, please try to win the trip to come to Japan.
Haiku about friendship can be read on the Asahi Haikuist Network at www.asahi.com/english/haiku
The next issues of Asahi Haikuist appear June 3 and 17. Readers are invited to send haiku about rain on a postcard to David McMurray at the International University of Kagoshima, Sakanoue 8-34-1, Kagoshima 891-0197, Japan, or by e-mail to (mcmurray@fka.att.ne.jp).
Secondly, let me tell you about the contest in Japanese version.
第2回日EU英語俳句コンテスト
～最優秀賞受賞者を 1）ファン=ロンパイ欧州理事会議長の出身国であるベルギー，若しくは 2）近代俳句の地，松山市道後温泉にご招待～
（応募の手引き）
平成23年5月12日
外務省
欧州連合
（英語版）
はじめに
ファン＝ロンパイ欧州理事会議長は，自ら俳句集を出版するほどの俳句ファンであり，昨年4月末に東京で開催された日EU定期首脳協議への同議長の出席を記念して開催した第1回日EU英語俳句コンテストでは，日本とEUをテーマに523句もの作品が集まりました。
第20回目を迎える本年の日EU定期首脳協議においては，日・EUの関係強化策について首脳間で活発な意見交換が行われることが想定されます。
先般の東日本大震災を受け，EUからは即座に連帯の意の表明と共に支援の申入れがあり，これまでに，毛布，食料，衣類などの物資支援及び1000万ユーロ（約12億円）を超える寄付決定がなされています。この首脳協議の機会に我が国としてもEUに対し謝意のメッセージを最大限表明したいと考えています。
今般，外務省とEUでは、日EU定期首脳協議に向けて，「絆(Kizuna)」をテーマに第2回日EU英語俳句コンテストを開催し、日本とEUの絆を一層深めるとともに、英語のHaikuを世界に普及するきっかけにしたいと考えています。
また，応募者のメッセージを効果的に発信するために，フェイスブック＊に日EU英語俳句コンテストのファンページを作成しました（www.facebook.com/haikucontest）。応援・感謝のメッセージを添えて投稿していただければ，一部の作品をメッセージとともに主催者がフェイスブックに掲載しますので，他の応募者や登録者と交流することができます。本コンテストをきっかけに俳句を通じた市民レベルでの日EU交流が一層活発になることが期待されます。
＊フェイスブック＝インターネットを通じたネットワーク・サービス。登録・利用方法や詳細は（www.facebook.com/haikucontest）を参照願います。
名称：第2回日EU英語俳句コンテスト
主催：外務省、欧州連合
後援：松山市，フランドル俳句協会（ベルギー）
テーマ：絆 (Kizuna)
英語俳句の形式：短い英文詩（3行詩が望ましい）であれば形式は自由です。季語を含める必要はありませんが「絆」をテーマにして下さい。
応募資格：日本国内又はEU加盟国内に居住する日本国籍又はEU加盟国籍を有する方。年齢は問いません。
応募方法：以下の応募用紙をダウンロードして記入の上、電子メールにてjapaneuhaiku-contest@mofa.go.jpまで送付願います。
応募締め切り：平成23年5月23日（月曜日）14時（日本時間）
審査委員：外務省，欧州連合，デビット・マクマレイ氏（国際俳人）
フェイスブック・
ファンページ：www.facebook.com/haikucontest
表彰： 最優秀賞を日EU双方の応募者から一句ずつ選出し，日EU定期首脳協議共同記者会見の場において発表するとともに，副賞として，EUからの応募者1名を近代俳句発祥の地である愛媛県道後温泉に招待市，また，日本からの応募者1名をファン＝ロンパイ欧州理事会議長の出身国であるベルギーに招待します。
＊最優秀賞の受賞連絡及び副賞の詳細については、主催者から受賞者に対して直接連絡があります。なお，国内交通費や滞在費などは受賞者に負担していただく場合もあります。
お問い合わせ先：
外務省欧州局政策課 日EU英語俳句コンテスト担当（haikucontest-qa@mofa.go.jp）。
照会はメールでのみ受け付けております。
Lastly, we sincerely hope that you will have a chance to visit Matsuyama or Brussels.
We wish you success.
― Hidenori Hiruta
The Akita Association of English Studies (AAES)（秋田英語英文学会）, was established in 1954 at Akita University（秋田大学） in Northern Honshu, Japan, aimed at promoting deeper understanding and further studies on the cultural backgrounds of English as the international language, and at providing chances to share and exchange information and ideas on English and English education for the members who are interested in these fields.
AAES President, professor Akira Murakami at Akita University（秋田大学教授村上東会長）, gave a symposium titled “俳句 and Haiku : The short forms of literature and English Education”, on November 27, 2010, at Akita University.
The participants also enjoyed writing haiku in English and selected their favorite haiku each other. The prizes were awarded for the two best haiku.
Here I refer to the points taken up in the symposium, and post haiku written by some of the participants there.
First of all, here is a notice about the symposium in Japanese.
As the notice shows, Professor Emma TAMAIANU-MORITA, Ph.D. at Akita University gave a lecture, whose title is “Why ‘Less’ is Not ‘More’ in Foreign Language Teaching: Some Reflections from a Linguist’s Perspective.”
Secondly, I report the main points taken up by three presenters in the symposium.
1 Haiku in English
a) Differences between haiku in Japanese and in English
b) “17 syllables” question
c) Seasonal words (kigo 季語)
d) International Haiku （国際俳句）
and
Professor David McMurray at the International University of Kagoshima
（マクマレイ・デビッド鹿児島国際大学教授）
2 Haiku in English education
a) The Haiku in the school textbook ‘Sunshine’
by Emeritus professor Minoru Kono at Akita University
（幸野稔秋田大学名誉教授）
b) Haiku and haiga by junior high school students in Akita
c) Haiku by senior high school students in Akita
d) Haiku by students at Akita International University (AIU)（国際教養大学）
3 Haiku contests
a) Earthday Haiku Contest
b) AIU Haiku Contest
4 Haiku ― its future in English education
Viewpoints by Dr. Akito Arima, President of Haiku International
Association（有馬朗人国際俳句交流協会会長）
Last of all, I post haiku written by some of the participants after the symposium.
Hidenori Hiruta 蛭田 秀法
Old bookworm
ponders between lines… 雪国や行間に住む本の虫
snow country
(prize-winning from Akita International Haiku Network)
Yasushi Sato 佐藤 康
With shorter days
Moslems hurriedly walking 短日や祈りに急ぐ回教徒
to go to pray
(prize-winning from Akita Association of English Studies)
Neko Murakami 村上 猫
A sunny day nap
Bombardment of ginkgo nuts 銀杏の音に目覚める猫の夢
Wakes up the kitty
Minoru Kono 幸野 稔
Indian summer –
A one-year old boy 小春日や小(ち)さき手を振る一歳児
Waving to me.
Peter Hook (Anonymous) ピーター・フック（匿名）
Autumn rain
The roof of the on-sen 空覗く温泉の屋根秋の雨
Open to the sky
Anonymous 作者不明
[今朝、小春日和の中、バラの木を見て]
Sleek on the stems
Thorns of roses バラのとげ健(けな)げに小春陽(ひ)を映す
In the hazy sunlight
Seisaku Chiba 千葉 星作
how soon by blizzards
Akita will be blanketed あきたんぼ[秋田んぼ]
stay tuned! ふぶきの毛布ぐぐと来い！
Happy Sun
A peninsula
Set off a skyrocket
One’s love for one’s Country
Masanori Watanabe （渡邉政徳）
Practicing an interview
A student tells her dream
Glowing with hope
Anonymous
Sarah, My Dog
You Bring Me the
Joy of Living
“Banana Man” Peter Hook
Spring wind –
Kids on bikes
Scattering laughter
Anonymous 作者不明
Thin ice
Cleaning Japanese radishes 薄氷大根洗う木漏れ日に
Sunlight through the trees
Lazy Cat MURAKAMI
Nowhere to lay eggs
Two dragonflies disappear 赤とんぼ稲なき田より飛び去りぬ
Paddies without rice
Junko Masuda 桝田 純子
Winter sun beam
has come into the shrine 幸せを祈る本堂冬日さす
praying happiness
Katsuhiro Adachi 安達 勝裕
Since then
I’ve never cured あの時から癒えぬままの私の心
My mind
T. NIMURE 二牟礼 勉
A hurried man
through colored leaves 帰路急ぐ紅葉の中陽を浴びて
in the sun
Yoshiyuki Sugawara 菅原 芳行
The partner in the crime
happened to close the door; 共犯者ドアを閉めたら逃げられず
locked in the room.
Anonymous 作者不明
My love fall
has run away まちわびた秋足早にすぎさりて
so fast
Ayako Watanabe（渡部アヤ子）
Happy four-leaf clover
Shines in my hands
With gratitude to Prof. Saibyo
Ueno Murakami
“Fly”
Bat away your fear,
Your anxiety playground,
On dragonflies wings.
Miyake Yoshimi
Stopt driving
On the way to lunch
Red burning Taiheizan
Anonymous
Secrets heard
From your eyes, deep inside
Obsessed by memories
Anonymous
Shining Star
Light in the black
Comes to heart
Anonymous
The king of drink
superb and sparkling
splendid juice
Anonymous
Fallen leaves
Here, there, and everywhere
Under a clear sky
Anonymous
How powerful
A new –born grandson
could curve the disease
It is rare to write haiku in a symposium, but the participants at the symposium found it very interesting and exciting to write and share haiku with each other, and to exchange comments among them.
In my opinion, writing haiku is helpful to express ourselves and to learn how and what to express, and at last makes it easier for us to speak in communicative situations in our daily lives too.
Haiku could be a good topic in our conversation, about which we easily talk with each other.
In other words, haiku could help us gain a better mutual understanding beyond the gaps of cultures.
We sincerely hope that you will get more interested in writing haiku, and that you will contribute your haiku to our network.
The next posting ‘Haiku by Seisaku Chiba in Japan’ appears on January 22.
― Hidenori Hiruta
On July 15, 2009, I received two comments from John McDonald in Edinburgh, UK.
He was the first haiku poet to send us comments, saying “Good Luck” and encouraged us to continue posting haiku or articles on haiku.
John also presented me with his haiku book, whose title is ‘THE THROU-GAUN CHIEL’.
He has a web-page of Scots haiku http://zenspeug.blogspot.com which he tries to update daily, and from which most of the enclosed have been taken.
In April, 2010, John kindly made a booklet of haiku for me in celebration of the 1st anniversary of the opening of Akita International Haiku Network.
Its title is ‘Seasons in Akita （秋田の四季）’ , in which he translated my haiku into Scots.
The haiku of mine are written in English as well as in Japanese and they are posted at the blog: http://akitahaiku.blogspot.com/, some of which appeared in the Asahi Haikuist Network by David McMurray.
John says in his e-mail as follows:
Dear Hidenori San,
I expect to send your little booklet tomorrow. I’ve called it Seasons In Akita (not - the seasons in Akita) because it does not follow the usual layout of seasons etc. it is simply recording the haiku you have written taking an example from each season so I hope you like it please let me know if everything is ok ;if so, I will put two copies into the scottish poetry library and one into the national library of scotland (as I do with all my booklets). Hope you are all well in Akita
aye John
John McDonald also contributed kindly another book of his, whose title is ‘FUME O PEAT REEK’ ,or ‘fragrance of peat smoke’ in English to me for our festival.
I present some of his haiku to you with my Japanese translations.
The peerie moose ―
scartin scartin
a thirl i ma sloom
the little mouse ―
scratching scratching
a hole in my sleep
子ネズミのひっかく音に目を覚ます
Konezumi no hikkaku oto ni me o samasu
mappie’s
brakfast o gowans:
sinny-sides up
rabbit’s
breakfast of daisies:
sunny-sides up
うさちゃんの朝食ヒナギク目玉焼き
Usa chan no choushoku hinagiku medamayaki
her cot fauldit
on the strand ―
the souchin chingle
her coat folded
on the shore ―
the sighing shingle
(for Margaret)
ため息の浜辺の小石コートのみ
（マーガレットのために）
Tameiki no hamabe no koishi kouto nomi
voar mornin
the daffins
thair gowden craigs
spring morning
the daffodils
their golden throats
春の朝水仙ののど金色に
Haru no asa suisen no nodo konjiki ni
in the daurk
the bed shaks ―
her guid freen’s wun awa
in the dark
the bed shakes ―
her best friend has died
闇の中ベッド揺れ動き友が逝く
Yami no naka beddo yureugoki tomo ga yuku
zen gairden ―
ma sheddae switters
ower the chingle
zen garden ―
my shadow ripples
over the shingle
禅の庭影さらさらと石の上
Zen no niwa kage sarasara to ishi no ue
the gairdner
heelds ower’s flooers ―
they gove up at’m
the gardner
leans over his flowers ―
they gaze up at him
寄りかかる庭の主見る花々や
Yorikakakru niwa no nushi miru hanabana ya
sundoon ―
she rugs a reid threid
throuch her flooerin
sunset ―
she draws a red thread
through her embroidery
夕焼けに赤い糸引く刺繍かな
Yuuyake ni akai ito hiku shishuu kana
moch
thrabs on the lozen
ayont: the muin
moth
pulses on the pane
beyond: the moon
窓枠で脈打つ蛾の涯月かかる
Madowaku de myaku utsu ga no hate tsuki kakaru
…sodgers’ sheddaes
athort his
govein een
…soldiers’ shadows
across his
staring eyes
兵たちの影横切れり彼の目に
Heitachi no kage yokogireri kare no me ni
gean flourish
fleets on the burn
…plowp o a troot
cherry blossom
floats on the stream
…plop of a trout
桜花流れ漂う鱒の音
Sakurabana nagare tadayou masu no oto
waukrife nicht ―
thrawin stanes
intae the derkness
sleepless night ―
throwing stones
into the darkness
眠れぬ夜石を投げたり暗闇に
Nemurenu yo ishi o nagetari kurayami ni
voar sinsheen ―
bummer waukens me
dunnerin at the winnock
spring sunshine ―
bee wakens me
banging at the window
春光に蜂目覚ますや窓を打つ
Shunkou ni hachi mezamasu ya mado o utsu
muinlicht dookin:
snail
on the funtain-nude’s erse
moonlight bathing:
snail
on the fountain-nude’s bottom
月光浴泉の底のカタツムリ
Gekkouyoku izumi no soko no katatsumuri
roses’ heids
abuin the wa
…geeglin
roses’ heads
above the wall
…giggling
バラの顔くすくす笑う壁の上
Bara no kao kusukusu warau kabe no ue
fawin intae the scug
o the speengie rose ―
the speengie’s petals
falling into the shade
of the peony ―
the peony’s petals
しゃくなげの影に散りゆく花弁かな
Shakunage no kage ni chiriyuku kaben kana
Last of all, let me decorate our on line festival with the photo flower presented by Patricia Lidia, a haiku poet, in Romania.
The next posting ‘Haiku by Dennis M. Holmes for Int’l Haiku Spring Festival 2010’ (6) ’ appears tomorrow on May 17.
― Hidenori Hiruta
I have just received an e-mail about an Asahi Newspaper sponsored haiku in English contest from Professor David McMurray at the International University of Kagoshima.
Would you please send your haiku before April 18?
His e-mail is as follows:
Dear Hiruta sensei,
Thank you so much for referring to the Asahi Culture Centre, I will read and review it. This Friday will feature many haiku about the first day of school. But here is something really special for you up in Akita at this time of year, the chance to go to Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama! Not quite Kagoshima, but warm…
Here is one more item for readers of your homepage. Please let me update you on the launch of an Asahi Newspaper sponsored haiku in English contest with the theme Europe and Japan affording a trip to Japan as first prize. For details please link to:
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201004020418.html
If you and the readers of your homepage might have some time to write one haiku on this theme before April 18, you could win a trip to Dogo Onsen in Matusuyama Japan, please link to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan homepage for the application form in English and in Japanese.
www.mofa.go.jp/region/europe/eu/haiku_sub.html
In summary,
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan and the European Union are calling for haikuists to enter the Japan-EU haiku contest for a chance to win a trip to Matsuyama, the home of modern haiku.
Before April 18, please send one haiku about Europe-Japan relations to (haikucontest@mofa.go.jp). Visit (www.mofa.go.jp/region/europe/eu/haiku_sub.html) for details.
Best of luck,
David McMurray
Last of all, we sincerely hope that you will send your haiku before April 18.
― Hidenori Hiruta
Haiku by Hidenori Hiruta in Japan
2010/04/10
Now in Japan we are in a cheerful mood, sharing the beauties and wonders of spring with each other.
With the coming of spring, adonis appeared in the fields and camellias opened their flowers, from white to pink and red ones.
Plum and cherry blossoms are in full bloom here and there in Tokyo these days.
Both of them have been loved and taken up in haiku or tanka since the ancient days in Japan.
At the end of March, I wrote the following haiku:
Fresh cherry blossoms
reflected in the pond
water mirror
初桜姿をうつす鏡池
Hatsuzakura sugata o utsusu kagami ike
First of all, let me tell you about my writing career of international haiku.
In May, 1998, I studied about international haiku and started writing haiku in English.
Professor David McMurray at the International University of Kagoshima（鹿児島国際大学） came to Akita and gave us a workshop on international haiku at the meeting of JALT (The Japan Association for Language Teaching)（全国語学教育学会）. He told us about international haiku and showed us how to write haiku in English.
Since then I have been studying about haiku in English through Asahi Culture Center（朝日カルチャーセンター）, where we can enjoy International Haiku Correspondence with Professor David McMurray.
As our mentor he gives us instructions and suggestions on how to burnish and improve haiku in English.
As a haiku poet he received NAGOYA TV AWARD at International Haiku Poetry Festival held as part of THE 2005 AICHI WORLD EXPO （愛知万博）in July, 2005.
White lilies
the feeding tube
removed
David McMurray
Professor David McMurray is also the haiku selector and editor of the Asahi Haikuist Network column found in Friday edition of the International Herald Tribune Asahi Shimbun （ヘラルド朝日）and on the Internet at http://www.asahi.com/english/haiku/.
In March, 2004, I wrote the following haiku:
Bush warbler
music in the eaves
rice cake dries
餅の香や鶯の声軒に満つ
Mochi no ka ya uguisu no koe noki ni mitsu
My haiku appeared in the Asahi Haikuist Network and also appeared together with Basho’s haiku in the blog by Angelika Wienert, a German poet, in 2005.
鶯や餅に糞する縁の先
Uguisu ya mochi ni fun suru en no saki
Bush warbler ―
shits on the rice cakes
on the porch rail
Translated by Robert Hass
In July, 2004, I visited Kisakata（象潟）, Akita, and wrote the following haiku in celebration of the 360th anniversary of Matsuo Basho’s birth:
Basho’s wind
circling stone tablet
midsummer
蕉風の句碑に立ちたる真夏かな
Shou fuu no kuhi ni tachi taru manatsu kana
In October, 2004, I wrote the following haiku while reading “The Narrow Road to Oku” (Oku no Hosomichi) by Matsuo Basho(1664-1694) as translated by Donald Keene.
I composed it to keep cozy, when the nights were getting longer and chillier.
Autumn winds
leaves flutter upon
the narrow road
秋風や奥の細道木の葉舞ふ
Akikaze ya Okuno Hosomichi konoha mau
In November, 2006, I wrote haiku about first snow:
Basho’s statue
dressed in white snow
narrow road
初雪や芭蕉の衣清まれり
Hatsu yuki ya Basho no koromo kiyomare ri
My haiku appeared in the Asahi Haikuist Network, where Professor David McMurray noted as follows:
The first snowfall in Akita was light, just enough to dust Matsuo Basho’s monument, writes Hidenori Hiruta. Or as the poet observed in 1686, enough snow fell to bend narcissus leaves: Hatsu yuki ya suisen no ha no tawamu made. Hiruta alludes to Basho’s travel journal, “Oku no Hosomichi” (The Narrow Road to the Deep North).
初雪や水仙の葉のたわむまで
Hatsu yuki ya suisen no ha no tawamu made
The first snow ―
just enough to bend
narcissus leaves
Translated by David McMurray
These two haiku above are quoted in the category, Literature of the Literature.net.
In January, 2009, I wrote haiku about New Year. This was selected and printed in the haiku magazine, HI , which is published by HIA (Haiku International Association)（国際俳句交流協会）.
Sending out steam
dedicating Bonden
New Year’s Festival
湯気立てて梵天納む寒祭り
Yuge tate te bonden osamu kan matsuri
On January 23, 2010, the word ‘Bonden（梵天）’ was taken up as Kigo for the New Year in SPECIAL GALLERIES…..DARUMA MUSEUM (03) by Dr. Gabi Greve, a German poet, in Okayama, Japan.
In February, 2010, I wrote the following haiku:
Frozen beard
thawing
valentine mails
鬚なごむバレンタインのメールかな
Hige nagomu barentain no meeru kana
On March 5, 2010, this haiku appeared in the Asahi Haikuist Network.
That night I received the following e-mail for my haiku:
Dear Hidenori Hiruta:
I have enjoyed reading your haiku in today’s edition of the Asahi Haikuist Network
in the International Herald Tribune. Congratulations!
Have a wonderful weekend–
With best regards,
Lenard D. Moore
Former President (2008 and 2009), Haiku Society of America（アメリカ俳句協会前会長）
Executive Chairman, North Carolina Haiku Society.
I knew Mr. Moore at the HIA 20th Anniversary Symposium held in Tokyo on November 28, 2009, which he attended as one of the panelists.
On March 8, 2010, Mr. Moore contributed his haiku to me and referred to his essay on writing haiku in his e-mail.
Dear Hidenori Hiruta,
Thank you very much for your kind words about my haiku. I am very pleased to learn
that you attended last year’s HIA 20th Anniversary Symposium and posted haiku.
I am delighted to hear that you have heard my talk on the haiku panel. However,
here is the website address for my essay on writing haiku with several of my haiku:
http://www.hsa-haiku.org/frogpond/2008-issue31-2/revelationsunedited.html
I am honored that you have read my following haiku:
autumn sunset
helicopter rises
from the heliport
–Lenard D. Moore
I am also honored to learn that you have appreciated my following haiku in the Asahi Haikuist Network:
Cloudless sky
all over my face
this thick beard
–Lenard D. Moore
Closing year…
I open the jar
of pickles
–Lenard D. Moore
Year-end rain
just the closed houses
up the street
–Lenard D. Moore
Congratulations on all of the work you are doing for haiku on the Akita International Haiku Network!
I am grateful to you for inviting me to submit haiku to you for the Akita International Haiku Network.
Once again, thank you very much. Have a wonderful week–
With best regards,
Lenard D. Moore
www.wordtechweb.com/moore.html
Last of all, let me tell you about what HIA President Akito Arima （国際俳句交流協会会長有馬朗人）concluded in the symposium on November 28, 2009.
He predicted as follows:
Haiku will spread out to the world more because of its brevity and its coexistence with nature.
More and more young people will get interested in haiku for its brevity, and enjoy writing and reading haiku.
More poets will share haiku with each other in their blogs on the Internet.
Global haiku contest or festival will increase on the Internet too.
The next posting ‘ International Haiku Spring Festival 2010 (Akita, Northern Honshu, Japan)’ appears on April 18.
― Hidenori Hiruta
