Tag: Donald Keene

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 about the Great East Japan Earthquake (2)

  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) →

The Earthday Haiku Contest : CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG PERSONS’ HAIKU CONTEST

  First of all, let me tell you about the Earthday Haiku Contest.   2010 Bath Japanese Festival UK in association With Words (UK); Sketchbook Haiku Journal (USA); and Planetpals (Worldwide) are in partnership with the planet to bring the Earthday Haiku Contest.   They are also pleased to have the support of Akita International University; … Continue reading The Earthday Haiku Contest : CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG PERSONS’ HAIKU CONTEST →

Basho’s stay in Kisakata, Akita (Part 3)

  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) →

Basho’s stay in Kisakata, Akita (Part 2)

  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) →

Basho’s stay in Kisakata, Akita (Part 1)

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) →