Thursday, December 25, 2008
Two X'mas Eves
Exactly one year ago from today, I was in Yoyogi (Shibuya, Tokyo) to enjoy Chage & Aska's last concert in a series called "alive in live". At that time I had no idea this dog would become such a big part of my life.
The band's stage crew trucks.
Yoyogi National Gymnasium, an hour or so before the concert. This arena, which I heard is the largest in Japan, was completely filled by the time the concert started.
Walking toward Shibuya Station after the concert.
Two of my favorite songs.
The band's stage crew trucks.
Yoyogi National Gymnasium, an hour or so before the concert. This arena, which I heard is the largest in Japan, was completely filled by the time the concert started.
Walking toward Shibuya Station after the concert.
Two of my favorite songs.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Shiro Doggie Haiku
Beloved dog Shiro
You too are getting too cute
My autumn heartaches
In the middle of the night I felt Shiro breathing comfortably next to my body. It will soon be eight months since this little dog first ran through our home like a hurricane, making me wonder if he would ever calm down.
My husband and I thought we were never going to have another dog after our previous dog Saburo passed away during last Thanksgiving. Even the exciting trip to see the winter cranes in Hokkaido couldn’t erase the lingering sadness. It was Shiro that swept it away with his restless playfulness.
It will soon be another Thanksgiving, the first with this little boy.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Haiku Snow
"Haiku Snow" is the blogspot of Claribel Cone and Mike Heffner. As Viking Dog Press and Star Map Productions, they publish a variety of haiku, artworks, and other fascinating things.
As a tribute to the Tancho cranes, they published a broadside for me. Please have a look at this LINK.
As a tribute to the Tancho cranes, they published a broadside for me. Please have a look at this LINK.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
What does "Tsuru no Kaze" Mean?
Answer: The wind of cranes. "Kaze" can mean either a wind or cold. How do we know which is meant? First, Japanese people use the context. Then they look at the kanji character being used.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Haiku with Music
Thanks to my talented friend Hisao-san, who is also a fan of Tancho cranes, I have another beautiful video to show you on the left. He combined my haiku presented below with a few of my pictures and enhanced it with his pictures and choice of music.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Haiku
I hope you enjoy the following three haiku I wrote about the cranes, and then another haiku by someone. The general haiku form is 5-7-5 syllables. I have provided a brief translation next to each line of my haiku and more explanation under each haiku.
北海道 Hokkaido ([In] the Northernmost island of Japan)
丹頂の里は Tancho no sato wa (the home of the Tancho cranes)
何処やら Izuko yara (is where?)
For my Japan trip, I held the map of Hakkaido many times. It is a big square island slightly rotated. Kushiro, in the southeast, is the home of Tancho cranes.
初夢か Hatsuyume ka (Was that a New Year Day's dream)
丹頂を愛でる Tancho wo mederu (to admire the Tancho cranes)
里帰り Satogaeri (returning to my birthplace?)
"Hatsuyume" means first dream. It refers to the dream people have on New Year's Day or the 2nd of January. Japanese often discuss what they dreamed about and what it might mean. Certain dreams are considered auspicious. Returning to Japan and admiring the cranes on New Year's Day was a dream-like experience. That might have been my "hatsuyume."
寒かろう Samukarou (It must be cold.)
鶴に引かれる Tsuru ni hikareru (Pulled by the cranes)
後ろ髪 Ushirogami (is my back hair.)
This haiku expresses my concern for the cranes. A while ago, a friend reported that Japan has gotten much colder and that Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, was minus 30 degrees C (not F). I worried about the cranes in Kushiro. "Ushirogami" (my back hair) comes from the expression "ushirogami wo hikareru" meaning "feel as if one's heart were left behind" or "find it hard to tear oneself away from someone or something." I've had this feeling since I returned to the U.S. It's as if my long hair has been pulled from behind by the cranes.
Now, here is the haiku someone shared.
Kushiro in white winter
The great cranes' cries
Like ice breaking
© Don Skiles
When I read this haiku, I hear the cranes' voices through the frozen air, echoing the creaky sound of slowly breaking ice. This haiku adds an auditory dimension to my haiku, which is mostly visual. It also makes me feel as if the cranes are responding to my haiku, as in their duet. My former English teacher, who wrote the poetic comment about my trip (posted below), happens to be a prolific haiku writer. Mr. Skiles guessed that I would receive haiku in response since that is in the tradition of haiku--a conversation. I certainly look forward to receiving more haiku from any and all of the readers of my blog.
Copyright © 2008
北海道 Hokkaido ([In] the Northernmost island of Japan)
丹頂の里は Tancho no sato wa (the home of the Tancho cranes)
何処やら Izuko yara (is where?)
For my Japan trip, I held the map of Hakkaido many times. It is a big square island slightly rotated. Kushiro, in the southeast, is the home of Tancho cranes.
初夢か Hatsuyume ka (Was that a New Year Day's dream)
丹頂を愛でる Tancho wo mederu (to admire the Tancho cranes)
里帰り Satogaeri (returning to my birthplace?)
"Hatsuyume" means first dream. It refers to the dream people have on New Year's Day or the 2nd of January. Japanese often discuss what they dreamed about and what it might mean. Certain dreams are considered auspicious. Returning to Japan and admiring the cranes on New Year's Day was a dream-like experience. That might have been my "hatsuyume."
寒かろう Samukarou (It must be cold.)
鶴に引かれる Tsuru ni hikareru (Pulled by the cranes)
後ろ髪 Ushirogami (is my back hair.)
This haiku expresses my concern for the cranes. A while ago, a friend reported that Japan has gotten much colder and that Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, was minus 30 degrees C (not F). I worried about the cranes in Kushiro. "Ushirogami" (my back hair) comes from the expression "ushirogami wo hikareru" meaning "feel as if one's heart were left behind" or "find it hard to tear oneself away from someone or something." I've had this feeling since I returned to the U.S. It's as if my long hair has been pulled from behind by the cranes.
Now, here is the haiku someone shared.
Kushiro in white winter
The great cranes' cries
Like ice breaking
© Don Skiles
When I read this haiku, I hear the cranes' voices through the frozen air, echoing the creaky sound of slowly breaking ice. This haiku adds an auditory dimension to my haiku, which is mostly visual. It also makes me feel as if the cranes are responding to my haiku, as in their duet. My former English teacher, who wrote the poetic comment about my trip (posted below), happens to be a prolific haiku writer. Mr. Skiles guessed that I would receive haiku in response since that is in the tradition of haiku--a conversation. I certainly look forward to receiving more haiku from any and all of the readers of my blog.
Copyright © 2008
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