Akita International Haiku Network
Gray clouds trail across the sky. In the pale winter sun a flock of geese (Ben Grafström–Akita, Japan)
In the first posting, I took up Basho’s haiku from his travel diary The Narrow Road to Oku, 『おくのほそ道 (Oku no Hosomichi 』. In his diary, Basho seems to have left Hope for us Japanese. Here is another translation by Donald Keene （ドナルド・キーン）. 夏草や兵どもが夢の跡 natsukusa ya The summer grasses – tsuwamono domo … Continue reading Haiku about the Great East Japan Earthquake (2)
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, or pictures. … Continue reading Haiku about the Great East Japan Earthquake (1)
On July 2４, 2010, Brian Birdsell(McSherry) sent me an e-mail, contributing a collection of haiku about summer. Hidenori Thanks for the email. I agree some thoughts of the cool spring weather is rather refreshing right now. I think Akita is getting the same weather as morioka - hot and humid! I plan to go … Continue reading Haiku by Brian McSherry in Iwate, Japan (3)
On January 25, 2010, I received the first mail from Mr. Holmes through Facebook: Hi, Did we perhaps meet at the World Haiku International Conference, 2002, held in Yuma Town, near Akita? I attended as part of the World Haiku Club. I enjoyed the area very much. It was September; but, the fall colors were … Continue reading Haiku by Dennis M. Holmes in USA
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)
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 they … Continue reading Basho’s hydrangea
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