Tsutomu Nimure, a tanka poet, in Akita, Japan, kindly contributed his tanka in celebration of the 1st anniversary of the opening of the Akita International Haiku Network.
He introduces himself as follows:
Tsutomu Nimure’s way of TANKA
As a college student, I had a Japanese class, which dealt Manyoushu. The teacher of the class advised us to write a Tanka poem. So at some twenty years of age I tried to make a Tanka and got some advice by the teacher. After that time I neglected to make Tanka poems. At age of 65 I retired, so I have begun to pay attention to Tanka for my hobby. Since that day it has been passed some ten years. In order to know my level I have continued to contribute my Tankas to some newspapers.. I was awarded in 2008 annual prize in Tanka by Asahi shinbun Akita branch and Mainichi shinbun Akita branch. (As of Oct. 20, 2009)
From now on, Tsutomu Nimure shows his tanka poems in Japanese as well as in English to us.
No.2(2010.03.30)
半月の西に傾く夜の道サッカーゲームの声援聞こゆ
On the way at night
when a half moon was sinking
in the west slowly
the exciting cheering voice
of a soccer game was heard.
チャペルには新婚夫婦祝したるコーラス隊の聖歌の響く
In a calm chapel
hymns, sung by an angel choir,
were still echoing,
and blessing new bride and groom
who married fore the altar.
仲良しのよき手本たる二羽の蝶ふわりふわりと花を回れり
A pair of but’flies
which is a good example
of intimate friends,
flew around a wild flower
lightly, softly, joyfully
睦まじく手をつなぎ合い助けあう男鹿半島と寒風山は
Holding their hands hard,
the Oga Peninsula
and Mt.Kanpuzan
are quite harmoniously
helping each other firmly.
面接を受ける学生個性あり応答速度瞬時か熟慮
Each of the students,
who takes an interview,
shows his character
in answering a question
instantly or leisurely.
新しき教科書開き予習する新学期前気持あらたに
A book opened,
new lessons are prepared
for by the teacher,
who has refreshing feelings
before a new semester.
雨により満開の花散りたりて桜じゅうたん歩道を占める
Owing to rainfall,
blossoms at their best scattered
and it was noticed
a cherry-blossom carpet
occupied a wet sidewalk.
Last of all, let me decorate our on line festival with the collection of photo flowers presented by Patricia Lidia, a haiku poet, in Romania.
The next posting ‘Haiku by Gabi Greve for Int’l Haiku Spring Festival 2010’ appears tomorrow on May 23, the last day of our Haiku Festival.
― Hidenori Hiruta
Akita International Haiku Network 
Really enjoyed the tanka, and I loved these two tanka! 😉
On the way at night
when a half moon was sinking
in the west slowly
the exciting cheering voice
of a soccer game was heard.
Owing to rainfall,
blossoms at their best scattered
and it was noticed
a cherry-blossom carpet
occupied a wet sidewalk.
all my very best,
Alan
http://area17.blogspot.com
http://www.bathjapanesefestival.com