Category: Haiga

Haiku about the Great East Japan Earthquake (5)

  On March 11, 2011, we had the most powerful earthquake since records began, which struck the Pacific coast of Northeastern Honshu, Japan, triggering a massive tsunami.   Since then I have received e-mails and messages from haiku friends worldwide, in which they have sent their condolences and prayers through haiku, haiga, tanka, short poems, … Continue reading Haiku about the Great East Japan Earthquake (5) →

Haiku about the Great East Japan Earthquake (3)

  On August 1, 1689, Basho visited Kisakata （象潟）, Akita Prefecture　（秋田県）,  Northern Honshu, on his journey. Basho wrote about Kisakata in his travel diary The Narrow Road to Oku, 『おくのほそ道 (Oku no Hosomichi 』 as follows:   江山水陸の風光数を尽くして、今象潟に方寸を責。酒田の湊より東北の方、山を越、磯を伝ひ、いさごをふみて其際十里、日影やゝかたぶく比、汐風真砂を吹上、雨朦朧として鳥海の山かくる。闇中に莫作して「雨も又奇也」　とせば、雨後の晴色又頼母敷と、あまの苫屋に膝をいれて、雨の晴を待。其朝天能霽れて、朝日花やかにさし出る程に、象潟に舟をうかぶ。 先能因島に舟をよせて、三年幽居の跡をとぶらひ、むかふの岸に舟をあがれば、「花の上こぐ」とよまれし桜の老木、西行法師の記念をのこす。   Here is a painting of Kisakata in those days.       Photo courtesy; as … Continue reading Haiku about the Great East Japan Earthquake (3) →

Haiku Symposium at Akita University in Northern Japan

  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 … Continue reading Haiku Symposium at Akita University in Northern Japan →

International Haiku New Year’s Festival 2011 (Part 4)

  On the fourth day, the rabbits enjoy their first running in the snowy fields and hills.       T.A. Smith’s rabbit also printed his footsteps in the snow.       After that, they joined the poetry recitation again.     Lenard D. Moore (USA)　              レナード ・Ｄ．ムーア （アメリカ） another year we sort the … Continue reading International Haiku New Year’s Festival 2011 (Part 4) →

International Haiku New Year’s Festival 2011 (Part 1)

  The New Year’s Festival has started with the arrival of Gabi Greve’s rabbit. Gabi's rabbit came to Akita from Okayama on New Year’s Eve, participating in the festival.       Gabi says in her haiku:   New Year preparations - my rabbit in his coat　　　　 　我が兎正月用にお召かえ of white     Patricia Lidia’s rabbit has got … Continue reading International Haiku New Year’s Festival 2011 (Part 1) →

Haiku by William Sorlien in USA (2)

  First of all, I would like to introduce a haiku friend of mine, William Sorlien, in Minnesota, USA. Here is a photo of Mississippi ginko walk, downtown St. Paul, September 2009   William Sorlien (Willie) is a construction tradesman residing in Minnesota, USA, which adjoins the cold northern border with Canada, near the center of … Continue reading Haiku by William Sorlien in USA (2) →

Haiga by an Elementary Schoolgirl in Akita (Part 3)

  桝田愛佳（Masuda Aika）began painting haiga in her elementary school days. In summer, 2008, her mother, 桝田純子(Masuda Junko), and David Ferron, an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in Akita City, Akita, Japan, took up haiga by Masuda Aika as their haiga project.  We post their haiga project on the website, dividing it into three stages. This is … Continue reading Haiga by an Elementary Schoolgirl in Akita (Part 3) →