Akita International Haiku Network
Gray clouds trail across the sky. In the pale winter sun a flock of geese (Ben Grafström–Akita, Japan)
E-book : 3.11 Memorial Haiku 追悼 On March 11, 2020, the Akita International Haiku Network published an e-book 3.11 Memorial Haiku 追悼 in prayer. This is because a student of mine, Ms. Makiko Utsumi, lives in Higashi- Matsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture, having lost her son’s wife in the Great East Japan Earthquake on March … Continue reading E-book : 3.11 Memorial Haiku
According to『おくのほそ道』(Oku no Hosomichi), ‘The Narrow Road to Oku’ ‘ translated by Donald Keene, 松尾芭蕉( Matsuo Basho )(1644-1694) arrived at Kisakata on the evening of August 1, 1689, when a misty rain started to fall, obscuring Chokai Mountain. The next morning the weather cleared beautifully. When the morning sun rose in all its splendor, … Continue reading Basho’s stay in Kisakata, Akita (Part 3)
On September 4, we received a comment on “Basho’s stay in Kisakata, Akita ( Part 1) from Dr. Gabi Greve. She said in her comment, “lately I enjoy Basho and the Sake no Hosomichi in the following site : http://washokufood.blogspot.com/2009/08/sake-no-hosomichi.html. I wonder what Basho might have eaten at Kisakata.” Dr. Gabi Greve is German … Continue reading Basho’s stay in Kisakata, Akita (Part 2)
On August 26, I visited 象潟(Kisakata), 秋田(Akita) and took some pictures of the spots referred to in『奥の細道』(Oku no Hosomichi), ‘The Narrow Road to Oku’ . I also wrote some haiku there. I’d like to post some pictures and haiku. 松尾芭蕉( Matsuo Basho )(1644-1694) arrived at Kisakata on the evening of August 1, 1689, when a … Continue reading Basho’s stay in Kisakata, Akita (Part 1)
On August 3, we received an e-mail from Mr. Roy Lindquist in Norway, saying “ I just wonder if I could have any future in your Akita International Haiku Network.” We at once answered his e-mail, saying “ It’s our great pleasure to share haiku with each other on the website.” Since then we’ve … Continue reading Haiku by Roy Lindquist, a haiku poet in Norway
Here is a picture of a lotus flower bud. In 2003 I got a haiku book written by Sylvia Forges-Ryan and Edward Ryan. Its title is “Take a Deep Breath’” ‘The Haiku Way to Inner Peace’. Its jacket photo by Jana Leon has a flower of white and red or scarlet. Even … Continue reading Basho’s lotus flowers
On July 31, I visited 虫甘満寺(Kanman ji), the Kanman-Temple in 象潟(Kisakata), 秋田(Akita) and I discovered many things. This temple is famous for the last spot which 松尾芭蕉( Matsuo Basho )(1644-1694) visited during his stay in Kisakata from August 1 - 3, 1689. According to 『奥の細道』(Oku no Hosomichi), ‘The Narrow Road to Oku’ translated by … Continue reading Basho’s mimosa blossoms
紫陽花 (ajisai), hydrangea, is the deciduous shrub up to five feet high with ball-shaped clusters of bluish flowers in June and July. It has become a common ornamental throughout the world. In Japan both 額紫陽花(gaku ajisai), H. macrophylla and 沢紫陽花(sawa ajisai), H. serrata in particular have been cultivated for so many centuries that … Continue reading Basho’s hydrangea
Iris is a genus of between 200-300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a … Continue reading Basho’s Irises
This is a picture of peach blossoms I took in Akita in the middle of May. Peach blossoms have been loved and taken up in haiku, waka, folklore, legends, and cultural events since the ancient days in Japan. Peach trees originated in China, where they loved peaches as well as peach blossoms, so they … Continue reading Basho’s peach blossoms
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