bamboo leaves fall : take no aki

There is my favorite place in Kamakura city.
It is a "Hokokuji" temple, and is called "Bamboo temple" because of its bamboo garden.
I went there last week for the first time in the last 5years.

Bamboo leaves fall in Spring when the bamboo shoots glow up.
We call it "take no aki" and it is a kigo of Spring though we use the word aki(=autamn).

I love both digging bamboo shoots and the silence of bamboo grove.


Brothers gone too soon from this grove
Return to ordinary life
Bamboo leaves fall

（はらからはすでに還俗竹の秋）

hazakura : cherry trees in leaves

Spring is almost go away with sakura petals.
After full bloom of sakura, their leaves are now lushing.
We call that trees "hazakura", and "hazakura" tells early summer is coming.

And also, a breeze blowing through green leaves is called "ao-arashi" means "blue storm".
This is a symbol of a fresh early summer and young generation.

Walking into cherry trees in leaves,
I wonder where I can find you
Cherry trees know that?

（葉桜をどこまで行けば人に逢える）

photo: Meguro River

White magnolia

Sakura, the cherry blossom is an iconic flower of Spring in Japan.
But before Sakura bloom, many kind of flowers burst into bloom, too.
One of them, white magnolia is my favorite.
I think they have so quiet atmosphere and have simple beauty.
Of course I love Sakura very much, but I can feel empathy with wihte magnolia in early Spring.

Why I woke up in this early morning
I can hear, the white magnolia is knocking
on my stubborn door

Norie

Leaf bud : 木の芽

I've just come back from 2 weeks absence.
During my absence, I was making transcription about haiku and tanka.
It was interesting to hearing famous author's talk about themselves.

I could find early Spring in these 2 weeks around me.
Nightingales begin to squeal, narciccus are in bloom, and many leaf buds come out!

Wind is still very cold, but we can feel joyfull Spring neaby.

Many flowers bloom in Spring, and meny of them are Kigo.


Narciccus are blooming
girls are smiling
but I am still behind curtains

Norie

  

Koi-neko : Cats in Love

Spring is a season of love for animals.
Getting warmer and warmer, cats mew and shout seeking their lovers.
We call them "Koi-neko(=Cats in Love)", and it is a kigo for Spring.
After their love, "Kitten" is also a kigo for Spring.


Cats in Love are storm,
After they did chasing each other
I left behind them lonely

Hina Matsuri : Doll festival for girls

We have the Doll festival (=Hina Matsuri) on March 3rd.
This is a festival for young girls to wish their happiness.
At the Hina Matsuri party, we enjoy sweet sake called "shiro-sake" and rice crackers called "Hina-arare". Mother makes many dishes like "Ushio-siru"(=clam soup) and "Chirashi-sushi".

We display dolls called "Hina-ningyo" before March.
The top 2 dolls of "Hina-ningyo" are the Emperor and the Empress.
They are dressed in beautiful kimono costumes.
Hina Matusri is also called "Momo no sekku"(=peach flower festival).

We can feel happiness for coming spring with this joyful festival.


Hina dolles know everything
because I made a secret promise
with my dear friends


photo: Hina-ningyo

http://mukusuke-english.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html

Entrance exams

January to February is a high season of the entrance exams in Japan.
The entrance exams are very difficult in Japan, it is a hard time for students and their parents.
When we wish for success the entrance exam, we go to the Shinto shrine and pray.

There are many shrines in Japan, but  "Tenmangu" is the best for this purpose.
Because the god of "Tenmangu" is a "Tenjin sama" (Sugawara no Michizane) who is very famous for his talents.

At the "Tenmangu" shirine, we donate money and buy a special charm for the exam.
Some of us also buy a votive tablet("Ema") and write their wish on it.
You can see many votive tablets at the shrine.

Here is a photo of "Ema" at "Yushima-Tenjin" (Tokyo)