Haiku by Seisaku Chiba in Japan
2011/01/22
Seisaku Chiba（千葉星作）, a member of Akita Association of English Studies (AAES)（秋田英語英文学会）, kindly contributed his haiku to our network with his brief bio on December 6, 2010.
Here is a BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF CHIBA, SEISAKU
1. Career of haiku composing:
“Fuyuki Kisaragi Shiika-shu, a collection of Japanese poetry (short poems and haiku)”, (private edition in Japanese, 1981)
“Haiku and Peace Messages in January, 1990”, (private edition in English, 1990, with some students of Odate-homei Senior High School)
“俳句HAIKU IN JULY, 1991”, (private edition in English and Japanese, 1991, with some students of Odate-homei Senior High School)
“Anthology of Haiku”, (private edition in English and Japanese, 1993–1994, with some students of Kakunodate Senior High School)
2. Background of language learning:
In Hirosaki University I studied a little French, German, Russian, and ‘small Latin, little Greek’. However, in the course of time—more than thirty years later—the better part of what I learned of those languages fled into the region of oblivion beyond comprehension. Yet, from time to time, I find it fun to decipher some aphorisms or plain passages in foreign languages.
3. Interests:
Jogging, yoga (self-disciplined, not instructed), strolling (with no specific purposes), and reading
Next, his brief bio in Japanese says as follows:
「haiku俳句実作の履歴」
1981年 「冬樹如月詞華集」（詩、短歌、俳句を収録）〔弘前大学卒業時に私家版として発刊、友人・知人・教育実習した中学校の受け持ちクラスの中学生などに配布して現在は在庫なし。辛うじて原版はあり。〕
１９９０，１９９１年 大館鳳鳴高校にて、生徒と一緒に合作（英語版）〔私家版あり〕
１９９３，１９９４年 角館高校にて、生徒と一緒に合作（日本語・英語版）〔私家版あり〕
2003年 New Zealand文科省2ヶ月研修にて、個人として（英語版）〔先日両面印刷したものです〕
大学で、フランス語・ドイツ語・ロシア語・ラテン語・古典ギリシャ語など囓りましたが、学んだ語彙・語法など相当忘却の彼方に飛んでしまっています。それでも、文法書と辞書の助けを借りれば、簡単な文章・警句などは何とか解読できます。
趣味：ジョギング、自己流ヨガ、目的のない旅・そぞろ歩き、読書〔日本語・外国語〕、そしてhaiku・俳句
I would like to post his haiku as follows:
A COLLECTION OF HAIKU IN BILINGUAL EDITION
IN WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
JULY—SEPTEMBER2003
by Seisaku Chiba
This is a picture of Wellington from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Wednesday, 30 July
A miracle
An oracle and a twinkle—
In the universe of language
奇跡とは神託なりやひかりあり
Thursday, 31 July
Floral asteroids rest
Don’t put on airs, mortals—
Just stare, care and water!
ちょこざいなつるべとられよ野暮に花
Friday, 1 August
A sea of grass looks unfathomable,
Blessed with sunbeams—
Afresh and aglow
芝の奥限りも知らに陽の光
Sunday, 3 August
Light blue up in the sky
Azure down in the bay
Leisurely walk, cosy stay
薄青の濃淡堪能ごゆるりと
Monday, 4 August
Birds chirp—OK
Kids slurp—naughty
Snapshots in August
やんちゃよし児らにちゅんちゅん葉月尽
Tuesday, 5 August
Buses are full of commuters
Temporary incubators
To help you encounter
芋洗うバスは揺りかご一会かな
Wednesday, 6 August
Life might well be steered by beer—
Like a kite reflected on the mirror
Softly at loggerheads with hardware
いかばかり世にうとまれし酒とモノ
Friday, 8 August
Persuade your mates off liquor
Pseudo glow worms flicker
Back to condos by cable car
ケーブルカーネオンとおさらば朋来たれ
Sunday, 10 August
Planes fly over the cranes
Japan our nest swelters in the west
A silver saucer’s afloat in the sky
西の方母国は暑中銀の皿
This is a panoramic view of Lake Rotorua from Mount Ngongotaha.
From Wikipedia, the free encycloipedia.
Sunday, 17 August
Lake Rotorua—a harbinger
Of peace luring strangers
To a geothermal awe
ロトルア湖地熱の恵みあまねしや
Wednesday, 13 August
A haven or a mollusc
Each bus stop is lit at dusk
A brisk and warm welcome
バス停に舫う心や宵の闇
Wednesday, 20 August
At Glenmore one more month
Before roses prick a man who
Leaves KIWI eavesdropping
グレンモアあとひと月の薔薇に聞け
Saturday, 30 August
Rippling blue and green
Marine cornucopia,
Or wines maturing?
さざなみや海の豊穣古酒の妙
Sunday, 31 August
Sparrows scavenge crumbs
At a café volunteer cleaners
Free bon appétit!
我と来てたんとお食べよよき雀
Wednesday, 3 September
‘Dance your socks off!’ here
A brisk get-together
Unlocks the door to spring
舞踏会戸を押し開けて春の声
Tuesday, 9 September
On a commuter bus
Passengers’ steps tune in on
That upcoming spring breeze
乗客のステップかろき微風かな
Wednesday, 10 September
Your winter days here
THIS IS NOT TOWAWAY AREA
Will never come apart
冬の日々「禁牽引」離れずと
Thursday, 11 September
Abrupt morn showers
May just brush social malaise
Why not crush your obsession?
雨暫しこの世の迷い余の迷い
Thursday, 11 September
Skateboarders on land
Yes—a fabulous night cruise
Crux gleams over the sand
スケボーの夜に漕ぎ出す砂に謎
Saturday, 13 September
Daffodil Day’s gone
Many a soul has its embers
Oft to be remembered
水仙は三つ子の魂偲ばんと
Saturday, 13 September
Polka-dotted sheep and cows
Vital accents spread over the meadows
Graze till a chaser howls
うしひつじ牧場に点ず犬よ待て
I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed haiku Seisaku Chiba wrote during his stay in Wellington, New Zealand.
His haiku reminds me of my visit and stay in New Zealand in 1972.
I visited Wellington as a member of the 6th Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise （青年の船）on November 22. We took a bus trip to Auckland via Napia and Rotorua from November 25 till 27.
Reading haiku by Seisak Chiba, I remember again the beauties and wonders of nature and cultures in New Zealand.
The next posting ‘Haiku by Verica Zivkovic in Serbia’ appears on January 29.
― Hidenori Hiruta
