Haiku about Winter (21)

千の風吹く海岸や冬の虹

sen no kaze fuku kaigan ya fuyu no niji

a thousand winds

blowing in the coast ―

winter rainbow

雪の精訪ふ海岸の観音を

yu ki no sei tou kaigan no kan non o

snow spirits

visiting the coast ―

the goddess of mercy

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (20)

思い出の甦る冬花捧ぐ

omoide no yomigaeru fuyu hana sasagu

winter

raises memories ―

last flowers

明日のため沈む夕日や冬来たる

asu no tame shizumu yuuhi ya fuyu kitaru

the sun setting

for tomorrow ―

winter comes

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (19)

戯れて踊る白鳥午後のお茶

tawamure te odoru hakucho gogo no ocha

swans

present dancing ―

afternoon tea

白鳥を迎ふ田園神去りぬ

hakucho o mukau denen kami sarinu

paddy fields

welcome swans ―

the god gone

Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Autumn (24)

干し柿や宝石のごと納屋飾る

hoshigaki ya houseki no goto naya kazaru

dried persimmons

embellish the barn ―

gems

干し柿や風と光に育まる

hoshigaki ya kaze to hikari ni hagukumaru

dried persimmons ―

raised by winds

and beams

Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Autumn (23)

日を浴びて柿熟しけり小鳥呼ぶ

hi o abi te kaki jukushi keri kotori yobu

persimmons

ripen in the sun ―

calling birds

甘柿やメルヘンの空現れる

amagaki ya meruhen no sora arawareru

sweet persimmons―

does the fairy tale sky

appear

Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Autumn (22)

日の光リンゴを照らす羽後の園

hi no hikari ringo o terasu Ugo no sono

the sunbeam

spotlights apples ―

the garden of Akita

ふじと言ふリンゴたわわに実りけり

fuji to iu ringo tawawa ni minorikeri

apples ripen

in abundance ―

named after Mt. Fuji

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Autumn (21)

秋色の絵の如き山浮びけり

shushoku no e no gotoki yama ukabi keri

picture-like mountain

floating up

in autumn hues

新米を産みし稲田の憩ひけり

shinmai o umi shi inada no ikoi keri

new rice produced

paddy fields lie

in repose

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Autumn (20)

豊かさや稲穂輝く丘の上

yutakasa ya inaho kagayaku oka no ue

how rich ―

ears of rice shine

in highland

慎ましや芒傾く丘の上

tsutsumashi ya susuki katamuku oka no ue

how humble ―

pampas grasses lean

in highland

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Autumn (19)

秋色や高地の木々の楽しめり

shushoku ya kouchi no kigi no tanoshimeri

autumn colors ―

trees enjoy themselves

in highlands

秋色や低地の田畑きわだてり

shushoku ya teichi no tahata kiwadateri

autumn colors

paddy fields stand out

in lowlands

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Autumn (18)

渓流魚床に集まり恋結ぶ

keiryuugyo toko ni ataumari koi musubu

stream fish

gather in the bed ―

love match

水落ちる別の世界やトンボ飛ぶ

mizu ochiru betsu no sekai ya tombo tobu

the water falls

into another world ―

a dragonfly

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (27)

白雲に緑深まる鳥海山

haku un ni midori fukamaru Choukai-san

white clouds

deepen greenery ―

Mt. Chokai

鳥海山緑と化して滝走る

Chokai-san midori to kashi te taki hashiru

Mt. Chokai

turns green ―

waterfalls

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (26)

夏の雪マスコットのごと鳥海山

natsu no yuki masukotto no goto Chokaisan

summer snow

makes mascots ―

Mt. Chokai

夏の山色とりどりの鳥海山

natsu no yama iro toridori no Chokaisan

summer mountain

abounds in colors ―

Mt. Chokai

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (25)

暑夏越えて雪の残るや鳥海山

shoka koe te yuki no nokoru ya Choukaisan

snow

survives summer heat ―

Mt. Chokai

象潟の地震に残りし小島かな

Kisakata no nai ni nokori shi kojima kana

islets

abide there ―

Kisakata earthquake

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (24)

ユニフォーム再会待つや緑の地

unifoumu saikai matsu ya midori no chi

looking forward to

reunion in uniform ―

the green earth

前線に立ちて微笑む緑の地

zensen ni tachi te hohoemu midori no chi

standing in front

they have a smile ―

the green earth

― Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (23)

水田の緑の笑ひ羽後平野

suiden no midori no warai ugo heiya

paddy fields

fresh green laughter

Ugo Plains

緑風の深き思ひや羽後の川

ryokufuu no fukaki omoi ya ugo no kawa

green wind blowing

deep in thought ―

Ugo River

― Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (22)

一列に立ちて微笑む緑の地

standing in line

they have a smile ―

the green earth

巡礼や微笑み返す緑の地

stopping in front

pilgrims smile back ―

the green earth

― Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (21)

段高し紫陽花の地に帰りけり

too high steps ―

back to the earth of

hydrangea

― Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (20)

巡礼や紫陽花迎ふ峠道

on pilgrimage ―

a welcome from hydrangea

of the path

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (19)

紫陽花の絵のかかりたり峠道

the picture

of hydrangea hanging ―

the path

― Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (18)

Oouchi-juku (大内宿）was an important post town whose buildings served as shops, inns and restaurants for travellers.

Many buildings have been preserved as they were before the Meiji Restoration (1867) (明治維新）, and the area has been designated as an Imortant Preservation for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

The village is now a popular tourist attraction.

茅葺きの大内宿や額の花

thatched roofs

Oouchi post station

hydrangeas

― Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (17)

Oouchi-juku　(大内宿） was a small post station　(宿場） in Japan's Edo period (1603-1867) （江戸時代）and part of the Aizu Nishi Kaido （会津西街道）.

It is now located in the town of Shimogo in Minamiaizu District, Fukushima prefecture　(福島県）, and is famous for the numerous traditional thatched buildings from the Edo Period that line its main street.

風薫る大内宿や桐床几

early summer breeze

over Oouchi post station

stools of paulownia

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (16)

幕開きや緑を流る北の川

the rising curtain

shows greenery background

northern river

北の川緑の風の吹きにけり

greenery wind

blowing over ―

northern river

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Spring (22)

The Boshin War （戊辰戦争）, a civil war in Japan, was fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court.

The Banshoji Temple （萬松寺）in Daisen - city （大仙市）, Akita Prefecture （秋田県）, was one of the battle sites, where the drooping cherry tree is said to have been completely damaged , but three cherry saplings are said to have been born and grown up, and to bloom now in spring.

On May 5, I visited there and wrote haiku, taking photos of the cherry blossoms.

cherry blossoms

weep for memories

the Banshoji Temple

思い出に桜しだるる萬松寺

omoide ni sakura shidaru ru banshoji

storyteller

on the Boshin War ―

cherry blossoms

語り継ぐ戊辰の役の桜かな

kataritsugu boshin no eki no sakura kana

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Spring (21)

Today, April 28, was the 49th day after the death of those who passed away in the Great East Japan Earthquake.

I visited the cemetery for those who had died with no surviving relatives, which is in the graveyard at Shouheiji-Temple　（勝平寺） in Akita City （秋田市）.

I had Buddhist service there with cherry blossoms blooming, when it rained a little while reciting sutra.

The 49th day is called 満中陰 ( manchuuin), the time when the spirits of dead people depart for the Pure Land.

cherry blossoms

see the souls off ―

the Buddhist service

桜花浄土へ仏送りけり

sakurabana joudo he hotoke okuri keri

sutra recitation ―

cherry blossoms bloom

for the souls' repose

桜咲く満中陰の読経かな

sakura saku manchuuin no dokyou kana

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Spring (20)

On April 8, Buddha's Birthday, there was a ceremony held for a newly-built image of Buddha in the graveyard of a Buddhist temple, Shouhei-ji (勝平寺), in Akita-city (秋田市).

The chief priest Shunsai Takayanagi (高柳俊哉住職）at the temple of the Sodo sect of Buddhism　（曹洞宗）, held the ceremony for the purpose of putting Buddha' heart and soul into the new statue with the supporting members of the temple.

The new statue of Buddha was built recently for those who died leaving nobody to look after his or her grave.

　Priest Takayanagi also held the memorial service for those who were killed in the East Japan Earthquake and its Tsunami on March 11.

spring earthquake

Buddha abides in

prayers

春の地震残る仏陀の祈りかな

haru no nai nokoru Budda no inori kana

spring earthquake

Buddha prays in

tears

春の地震祈る仏陀の涙かな

haru no nai inoru Budda no namida kana

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Spring (19)

On the afternoon of March 27, I visited the temple named Shouhei-ji （勝平寺） near my house in Akita-city （秋田市）.

In the graveyard is an image of Buddha, which was built recently for those who died leaving nobody to look after their graves.

Visiting there, I found snowflakes wandering over the image of Buddha.

I felt as if each snowflake is the spirit of the victim killed by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

I also felt as if the spirits are crying in tears over Buddha, and Buddha did too.

Buddha

praying for spirits

in tears

精霊に涙の仏陀祈りけり

seirei ni namida no budda inori keri

Buddha

praying for survivors

in tears

仏涙や残りし者の幸祈る

butsu rui ya nokorisi mono no sachi inoru

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Spring (18)

On March 1, I wrote the following haiku for the first haijinx issue of 2011.

My haiku were selected and published in haijinx Ⅵー１．

Please check them out at the haijinx homepage: http://www.haijinx.org/.

綱引きや川春潮を引き寄せる

tsunahiki ya kawa shunchou wo hikiyoseru

tug of war

the river draws the tide

of spring

シャボン玉宇宙船へと春の夢

shabondama uchuusen heto haru no yume

blowing bubbles

towards the spaceship

spring daydream

蛭田　秋稲

Shuutou Hiruta

Haiku about Spring (17)

The spring evening sun sometimes makes a miracle, creating a world of beauties and wonders.

My haiku is written about such a fantastic scene.

The setting sun

brightens spring waters

masterpiece

春水や夕日輝き絵となりぬ

Shunsui ya yuhi kagayaki e to narinu

The setting sun

paints pine woods dark

spring shadow

松林夕日の描く春の影

Matsubayashi yuhi no egaku haru no kage

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Spring (16)

Here in Akita the spring sunlight has begun to shine beautifully everywhere.

We really welcome the coming of spring, relieved from the hard long winter.

Spring current

smiles in the sunlight

the Northern River

北の川春の流れや微笑する

Kita no kawa haru no nagare ya bishou suru

Spring angler

catches the sunlight

the Northern River

北の川春光を釣る漁師かな

Kita no kawa shunkou wo tsuru ryoushi kana

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Spring (15)

Here in Akita, there was a local fest event called 'Big Tug of War in Kariwano （刈和野大綱引き）'

held recently. It seems that the tug of war is played between winter and spring.

But it is really enjoyed between good harvest and health.

Tug of war

winter in triumph

snow fairies

綱引きや冬勝ち誇る雪女

Tsunahiki ya fuyu kachihokoru yuki onna

Tug of war

spring in triumph

cherry trouts

綱引きや春勝ち誇るサクラマス

Tsunahiki ya haru kachihokoru sakuramasu

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (18)

Here in Akita we have had much snow again, which makes us feel as if it is still winter.

But the snow rarely continues falling so long.

A crow bathing

in the snow light

soundless

雪光を浴びる烏の黙しけり

Sekkou o abiru karasu no mokushikeri

The pausing crow

in a snow country

monochromatic

雪国や烏佇みモノクロに

Yukiguni ya karasu tatazumi monokuro ni

― Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Spring (14)

Here in Akita spring has just set in here and there these days.

One of the big changes is seen in the brightness of the sunlight.

I happened to meet such a sight a few days ago.

Spring sunlight

divides the Omono River

bright and dark

春光や明暗分かる雄物川

Shunkou ya meian wakaru Omonogawa

Heavenly show

spring landscape develops

the Omono River

天恵や春景開く雄物川

Tenkei ya shunkei hiraku Omonogawa

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (17)

Here is a photo of peony flowers blooming in winter in my collection.

I hit upon haiku about them.

Peony flowers

rouge on the snow

midwinter

白銀に紅をさしたる寒牡丹

Hakugin ni beni o sashitaru kan botan

How clear ―

peony flowers sparkling

midwinter

さやけしや紅色放つ寒牡丹

Sayakeshi ya beniiro hanatsu kan botan

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (16)

Here in Akita we sometimes have heavy snowfalls these days.

I have tried to find poetry even in such occasions.

Snowman ―

his makeup with charcoal

turns white again

雪だるま炭の化粧の色直し

Yukidaruma sumi no keshou no iro naoshi

Snow fairies

winging their ways

to and fro

雪女我が世の春や飛びまわる

Yukionna waga yo no haru ya tobimawaru

― Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (15)

Here in Akita we have had such heavy snow these days. The snowfall is our everyday's big topic.

Twittering

on the heavy snow

sparrows' news

大雪の知らせを雀伝えけり

Ooyuki no shirase o suzume tsutae keri

Snowy dusk

falling on sparrows

in twitter

おしゃべりの雀に迫る雪の暮れ

Oshaberi no suzume ni semaru yuki no kure

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (14)

In 'HAIKU Volume 1 EASTERN CULTURE by R.H. BLYTH', Basho's haiku is taken up as follows:

冬籠もり又寄添はんこの柱

Fuyu gomori mata yorisowan kono hashira

Winter seclusion:

Once again I will lean against

This post.

Here, and here only, is the little life set in the circle of the greater, the ordinary in the extreordinary, the commonplace in the miraculous, the material in the spiritual, the human in the divine. To sit on the floor and lean one's back against a post may not seem the acme of comfort, but this is the pleasure Basho is promising himself. During the winter, while the snow is silently falling, he will lean against the post as he did last year, reading and writing poetry, thinking

Thoughts that wander through eternity,

through our eternity, through the greater life. This post, rubbed amooth with countless vigils, black where his head rested against it, is all he asks for.

Inspired by Bsho's haiku above, I wrote haiku below.

Old bookworm

ponders between lines...

snow country

雪国や行間に住む本の虫

Yukiguni ya gyoukan ni sumu hon no mushi

―　Hidenori Hiruta