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)

Setsubun : event for end of winter, beginning of spring

Today, Feb. 2nd is the day called "Setsubun".
At "Setsubun" day, people throw roasted beans in and around their house,
for out evils and call in happiness. (with shouting  "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!)
After throwing beans, we pick up them and eat one's age number of beans.

Next day of"Setsubun"is called "Rissyun", meaning the beginning of spring (according to the traditional Japanese calender).
Both "Setsubun" and "Rissyun" are important seasonal words.
They let us feel the joy of coming spring.


Voice for call in happiness
vibrant the air
making the chord of spring joy

Norie

photo:
Oni's face which symbolize the evil (on the foam of beer!)

Nabe: mixed stew cooked at the table

It is very cold outside this week in Tokyo.
The snow has melted, but we will have another snowfall this weekend!

In Winter, we often have "Nabe" at home or at the restaurant.
"Nabe" is a general name for cooking vegetables, meats, or fish in a same pot at the table.
There are various kinds of  "Nabe" recipes, and are the  name differs.
When cooking  "Nabe", we use small electric or gas stove on the table.
It is very good and popular food for the party.

At the bottom of "Nabe"
you can find empty
I always find full satisfaction

Norie

photo: "Nabe"

Sumibi : charcoal fire

I went to a Potluck Party at my friend's house last week.
He is my haiku friend and is a very good party organizer.

This time, he prepared "Shichi-rin", a kind of charcoal stove for making foods.
"Sumi" is a charcoal in japanese, and "Sumibi" is a seasonal word for winter.
And "Binchotan charcoal" is the best one for cooking because of its quality.

We enjoyed the charcoal fire by cooking vegetables, mushrooms, meats and fish.

Around the charcoal fire stove
everybody is smilling
as one's childhood face

photo: Shichirin : charcoal fire stove

Hatsu-shibai : New Year theatre

Last Saturday, I went to"YOSE" theatre in Ueno.
"YOSE" is a theatre name especially for "Rakugo".

"Rakugo" is japanese comic monodrama which is one of the oldest theatre amusement.
The story of "Rakugo" is very funny. Most of them are based on people's common life.
We can enjoy the story with storytellers facial and body expression.
The storyteller uses handtowl as a book or folding fan as chopsticks!
And New Year "YOSE" is a special fun for many rakugo lovers.

Also, I went to "KABUKI" for New Year theatre.
New Year theatre, "Hatsu-shibai"  is a favorite kigo for me.

Nanakusa-gayu: seven-herb rice porridge

Today, January 7th is still New Year "Matsuno-uchi".
We have seven-herb rice porridge "Nanakusa-gayu" today for perfect health this year,
or stomach treatment.
These days, we can buy these "seven-herb package" at a supermarket.
(but unfortunatelly, I don't like rice porridge : -)

Far away from my hometown
I am now having "Nanakusa-gayu"
my mother's homemade taste

Norie

sugoroku: japanese dice game

Happy Holidays!

When I was a child, New Year day was the most important day in a year.
 All relative adalts give a special money, "Otoshidama" to their nephew or niece,
so children can get big income at New Year season.

At the family party, we play New Year game.
"Hanetsuki" is outdoor game like badminton, "Sugoroku" is a dice game.
But computer games are becoming so popular that traditional games fade away in these days.

All happiness of this year
are waiting for you
at the goal of "sugoroku"

Norie