Haiku Travelogue
“80 years after World War II”
(1)
by Hidenori Hiruta
Preface
I was
born on January 23, 1942. I was three years old when World War II ended. Since
then, I have personally been concerned that traditional Japanese culture might
be lost. In order to preserve Japanese culture, I believe it is important to
introduce various cultures to people overseas and make them familiar with them.
To achieve this, I believe it is necessary to disseminate information about
various cultures in English.
In
1969, I realized that English skills were essential, so I began studying
English conversation at Akita English Conversation School after working at senior
high school as an English teacher.
In
1972, fortunately I had an opportunity to join the 6th Japanese
Youth Goodwill Cruise as a language assistant. I visited the Philippines,
Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand, helping to facilitate exchanges between
young people in Japan and those overseas. Through various training sessions and
activities, I was delighted to see young people overseas show an interest in
Japanese culture, including calligraphy, tea ceremony, origami, Japanese dance,
Noh, and Kabuki.
In this
travelogue, I would like to talk about the things that surprised and pleased me
at the ports of call as well as the post-voyage activities, with my Japanese
and English haiku accompanied.
The 6th Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise
On October 16,
1972, under clear autumn skies, the 6th Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise departed
Tokyo Port for its first port of call, Cebu City, Philippines, with many people
seeing it off and carrying the joy of a journey.
313 young people
selected from across Japan and 39 invited guests from the four countries they
visited - the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand - were on
board.
Through various
learning and club activities on board, disciplined group life, and friendly
activities and various inspections at ports of call, they broadened their
international perspectives and had the opportunity to reflect on themselves and
their homelands.
On December 14,
the Japanese youth Goodwill Cruise completed its meaningful 60-day voyage under
the unifying theme of "Seeking mutual understanding and development among
the peoples of the Pacific" and with the motto of "Building a bridge of
friendship with these hands," and returned to Tokyo Port, where the
morning sun was shining beautifully.
The Route Map
Cebu (The
Philippines)
10月21日～10月23日
Sad News
On
October 22, I stayed home at a person working for an agency affiliated with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The
next morning, there was a newspaper on the table in my room. It carried
shocking news. The headline read, "Gunfight with a Japanese Soldier on
Lubang Island." It was sad news. The news reported that on October 19, a
Japanese soldier on Lubang Island had been shot in the shoulder during a
gunfight with the Philippine Constabulary, causing him to drop his Type 38
rifle, and then shot again in the chest, killing him.
まだ戦ルバング島の日本兵
mada ikusa rubangutō
no nihonhei
Still fighting
in Lubang Island
a Japanese soldier
It was later discovered that 27 years after the end of the war, he was the last Japanese soldier killed in action, shot by a bullet on Lubang Island. He had been hiding in the jungles of Lubang Island with Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda. His tragic death occurred one and a half years before Onoda returned to Japan in 1974. The Japanese soldier in question was Private First Class Kinshichi Kozuka.
Jakarta
(Indonesia)
10月28日～10月31日
A Comment by an Indonesian Youth
After
leaving Cebu City, an Indonesian member of our group gave the following
comment:
“At
the port of call in Cebu, young Japanese people were giving souvenirs to people
who asked for them, but they should stop giving in this way. As an equal
relationship between people, they should not just give unilaterally, but should
at least exchange for something. Furthermore, I would like them to be taught
that they can earn things by working.”
Interacting with Indonesian Youth in 1982
In
August 1982, two young men visited Akita City from Jakarta. They stayed at my
house and we held a welcome party for them.
The next day, my father's friend, Mr. Haruo Sekiya, invited us to Sekiya Lodge and Kainosawa Hot Spring, where we deepened our friendship through interactions.
山荘の青葉の部屋に客迎ふ
sansō no aoba no heya ni kyaku mukau
Indonesian youth!
Hearty welcome to
the green lodge!
浴衣がけ絆の杭を打ちにけり
yukata gake kizuna no kui o uchi ni keri
Bonds
born in yukata
on the summit
ジャカルタの友を迎える青葉風
jakaruta no tomo o mukaerui aoba-kaze
Old and young
planting a seedling
of
friendship
Melbourne to
Sydney (Australia)
11月10日～11月18日
Arthur’s Stone
On
November 12, my host family showed us around the Melbourne countryside. Along
the road, there was a statue of a great man, and in front of it was a large
stone. "It's Arthur's Seat, so you can't sit on the stone," my host
family said. I still remember these words clearly.
Now, in
2025, I searched for Arthur's Seat in Melbourne on a website and found a
tourist spot called "Arthurs Seat" 55 miles (about 85 km) from
Melbourne. I also found a panoramic photo of it.
According to Wikipedia, Arthurs Seat is a mountainous and small locality
on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne,
Victoria, Australia, about 85 km south east of Melbourne's Central Business
District.
Arthurs
Seat is noted for its exclusivity and the general affluence of the
demographics
which make up the enclave. The Aboriginal Boonwurrung name for the hill is
Wonga. It is a major tourist destination, with stately homes, and due to its
natural bushland, sweeping views and man-made attractions. The hill rises to
314 m (1,030 ft) above sea level.
初夏の空アーサーの石遥かなり
shoka no sora āsā no ishi
haruka nari
Early summer sky
Arthur’s large
stone
far away
Revisiting
Australia in 2002
７月31日～8月９日
The Gold Coast
I
stayed in the Gold Coast, a city in the southeast of Queensland, and focused on
the natural environment, education, and social welfare, visiting nature parks,
a zoo, a school, welfare facilities, etc. I also gained a deeper understanding
of resort facilities and condominiums.
CURRUMBIN Wildlife
SANCTUARY
コアラ抱く初体験の緊張裡
koara daku hatsu-taiken no kinchō -ri
First experience –
holding a koala
with tension
Home Party
.jpg)
11月22日～11月29日
Overland Travel
11月25日～11月27日
Wellington → Napier → Rotorua → Auckland
Southern Cross
ロトルアの夏の夜空に十字星
rotorua
no natsu no yozora ni jūjisei
Southern Cross
in summer night
sky
of Rotorua
Pōkarekare Ana
"Pōkarekare Ana" is a
traditional New Zealand love song, probably communally composed about
the time World War I began in 1914. The song is written in Māori and has been
translated into English. It enjoys widespread popularity in New Zealand as well
as some popularity in other countries. The song is said to have been composed
by soldiers from Northland at the beginning of World War I.
Pōkarekare ana
ngā wai o Waiapu,
Whiti atu koe hine
marino ana e.
E hine e
hoki mai ra.
Ka mate ahau
I te aroha e.
Tuhituhi taku reta
tuku atu taku rīngi,
Kia kite tō iwi
raru raru ana e.
Whatiwhati taku
pene
ka pau aku pepa,
Ko taku aroha
mau tonu ana e.
E kore te aroha
e maroke i te rā,
Mākūkū tonu i
aku roimata e.
They are agitated
the waters of Waiapu,
If you cross over girl
they will be calm.
Oh girl
return to me,
I could die
of love for you.
I've written my
letter
I've sent my ring,
so that your people can see I'm troubled.
My pen is
shattered,
I have no more paper
But my love
is still steadfast.
Never will my love
be dried by the sun,
It will be moistened
by my tears.
ワイアプの海は荒れている
もしあなたが渡れば
静まるでしょう。
ああ、お嬢さん
私のところに戻ってきて
私は死んでもいい
あなたへの愛で
手紙を書きました
指輪を送りました
私が困っていることをあなたの民に知ってもらうためです
ペンは粉々に砕け散り、
紙ももうない。
でも、私の愛は
今も揺るぎない。
私の愛は
太陽に乾くことはなく
私の涙によって
潤されるでしょう。
折折にマオリの歌を口ずさむ
oroori ni maori no uta o kuchizusamu
Humming
Māori song
from time to time
Hidenori Hiruta
Akita
International Haiku Network
蛭田 秀法
秋田国際俳句ネットワーク
