Tokyo

On 29th, I attended World Haiku Association Japan conference held in Tokyo. At the conference, Ban'ya Natsuishi, WHA director, showed us a radiation measuring device, which he had purchased at Amazon. The device is made in Shanghai, China. It's quite small, shorter than a ball tip pen, but costs quite a bit. Ban'ya seems to carry it around all the time and checking measurements wherever he goes. There might be more people like him in the days to come.

One of the participants was from the disaster area, and he shared with us some haiku in the haiku reading session. I plan to make a haiga or two from his haiku.

On the next day, I took a little walk around the city. Nice fine day, and in the soothing breeze, I came across these carp streamers. The Boys' Day is coming soon.

Haiku reading - The Days

During the past month and so, I wrote some haiku about the earthquake and tsunami. I put them together and added a few sentences to make it look like a haibun.
On April 29, World Haiku Association will hold its 6th Japan Conference in Tokyo. In its haiku reading session, this is what I am going to read. As I have shown on my blog, some of the haiku in it are already in haiga so I will exhibit them, too, along with the outstanding haiga from WHA Monthly Haiga Contest. There will be about 40 pieces.
Just hoping that some aftershocks will not ruin the annual event.

Here is the YouTube link of my haiku reading.

Haiga 575 Juanito Escareal haiku

Haiku by Juanito Escareal (USA, Philippines). Artwork by myself.

When I was young, I lived in Hawaii. Like anybody else on the tropical island, I was fond of playing on the beach and with waves. I remember the quietness of underwater. In the silence, you swim with small fishes. That was really nice.

One time, however, I was caught by a rather big wave. When that happens, your body roll and roll, and quickly you lose the sense of direction, cannot tell which side is the surface. You keep struggling for breath and . . . In my case, water was shallow so here I am still breathing.

I assume that was how people died in the tsunami struck areas in the north. More than 90% of about 40,000 deceased were drown. May those souls rest in peace in the now gentle warm sea, and will return to this world as the new born.

Haiga 574 Edin Saracevic haiku - Melting candy

Haiku by Edin Saracevic of Slovenia. Artwork by myself.

The word "melt" has taken on a new level of magnitude after the nuke problem broke out. From the very beginning, scientists speculated the melt down of the nuke bars, and indeed they melted down and being deposited at the bottom of the container.

I am not knowledgeable about the "melt down", I imagine it something like in this haiga. The candy, having disolved into the water, looses itself and dispersed in the water as if it did not exist. No so with the nuke. Though its shape changes, it continues to emit radiation for long long time. Chernobyl nuke, even after 25 years, is still in untouchable state. I just hope that someone come up with a technology to disable the radiation.

Haiga 573 Connie Donleycott haiku

Haiku by Connie Donleycott of USA. Artwork by myself.

Spring is in its full now: sun shining, flowers blooming, new leaves opening up. At parks, yards, and on streets, children's laughters add to the mood of this delightful season.

I heard a news of children in Fukushima not being allowed to play outside because of radiation precaution measure. Even far away areas from the restricted ones are under this measure. Children are staying indoor, playing with crayons and paints, and games and songs. While enjoying the indoor play, they certainly want to go outside time to time, into the sun and run around, jump up and down, just like the kids in the haiga.

According to the schedule reported by the government, containment process of radiation will take 6 to 9 months. This means that the children will miss outdoor fun in summer and autumn. Do feel sorry for them.

Haiga 572 John Stevenson haiku - body

Haiku by John Stevenson. Artwork by myself.
John is one of the haijins I collaborated with in my early days in haiga making. John often writes unique haiku, or rather senryu, and always a delight for me to challenge visualizing what he wrote.

Having read this haiku, we become aware thus that so much of what we do in daily life depend on the normal condition of the body, which we tend to take for granted. Being able to see, hear, eat, breath, work, walk, and so on. There are so many to give thanks to each day.

What frightens me about the nuke problem is that the invisible radiation prevents or makes it very difficult to conduct all of these actions we normally do with much ease.

Haiga 571 Jerry Ball haiku - to the north

Haiku by Jerry Ball. Artwork by myself.

In Basho's time, the areas of Japan north of Sendai, Hiraizumi were considered pioneer lands. Those areas include much of northern part of Hoshu Island (the biggest island) and also whole of Hokkaido Island. For Basho, the trip to the deep north meant traveling the northern end of the then Japan. Far away from economically and culturally booming Edo (Tokyo), to the area near where civilized influences had not reached.

In time, of course, all of those areas became parts of Japan. Now the cities are everywhere, and big ones there are connected with the Shinkansen, the bullet train. After the calamity that devastated good part of the areas, it looks as if the oldern days have returned.They say that the rebuilding will take many years. I certainly hope that the day will come sooner.

Haiga 570 An'ya haiku - Boys' Day

Haiku by An'ya. Artwork by myself. "Koinobori" is the carp streamer.

It was An'ya who first lured me to the world of haiku and haiga. This was like more than 10 years ago. She, by chance, saw my online artwork gallery, and requested to do some artworks from her haiku. I was then looking for some sources of inspiration to continue producing artworks, and this haiku thing seemed to me a good source. So, I said yes, and started making so called haiga. This haiga of carp streamers is one the the first ones I made.

The Boy's Day here is May 5th. When my son was born, my father-in-law got him a nice set of the day's decoration, which consists of samurai things like armor, war drum, and such. We already had a set of carp streamers handed down in my family. Now that my son has a boy, all these Boy's Day things belong to the boy. Thus, a family tradition continues.

Haiga 569 Carol Purington haiku

Haiku by Carol Purington. Photo and digital manipulation by myself.
Sakura flower has shed its petals already, spring seems to move quickly this year, perhaps my mind has been focused on the situation in the northern parts of my land.
Now, the new leaves are taking place of the flowers. New lives are beginning to be born.

This morning, I received an email from Carol Purington, saying a book she co-edited has been published. The book is called "Morning Song", an anthology of poetry on giving birth, nurturing and such. Carol and I are the same age, only she is being bedridden over 50 years. Really encouraging and inspiring to me to see a person like her accomplishes something like this.

Haiga 568 Matsuo Basho haiku - Rice Planting

Haiku by Matsuo Basho. Artwork by myself.
This haiga is from my haiga ebook "Narrow Road to the Deep North". Basho wrote this haiku just when he stepped into the northern region. The square shape in the haiga is from kanji for rice patch "Ta".

North-eastern region of Japan has rich farmlands, producing quite a bit of rice there. Now that most of the areas have been flooded with sea water after the devastating tsunami, farmers cannot start the usual planting procedures this year; salt covered lands are no longer suitable for rice, unless extensive repairs are done. There will be no song for planting rice for quite a while. Sad, indeed.

Haiga 567 Florence Vilen haiku

Haiku by Florence Vilen of Sweden. Artwork by myself.

The Crocus brings the news of the arrival of spring in Japan. I am sure various vegetations, even unknown weeds, are diligently repeating their life cycle even in the disaster areas. And people are often encouraged by the liveliness of the small life in the time of difficulty. Flowers bloom, new leaves sprout, babies are born, and life goes on
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I plan to attend the 6th WHA Japan Conference on April 29. It will be held in Tokyo. I am making printouts of some good haiga from the WHA monthly haiga contest, and will exhibit them at the conference. Just hoping that there will be no big aftershock then so the event will be held as scheduled.

unfounded rumors

Since the nuke problem broke out in Japan, and its news reaching throughout the world, there are wide spreading of rumors about radiation polluted foods. Food makers, farmers, fisherman, and such, are getting huge damage from the unfounded rumors.

The problem with nuke is that people prone to act on feeling rather than on data, which definitely states the foods are safe. People concerned cry out the safety of the foods, but the cry won't reach the people's ears.

Today, I received an email from an acquaintance in Tokyo. Attached it was these slogan sticker. it is a small way to calm the panic caused by the rumors, but I liked the idea so I made the English versions and sent them back. Just a small contribution of mine.

Haiga 566 Sachie Suzuki haiku -eyes from the world

Haiku by Sachie Suzuki. Artwork and English translation by myself.

Ms. Suzuki lives in the city of Yasu, Shiga Prefecture. Her haiku, selected by Tohta Kaneko for Asahi Shinbun newspaper haiku column, was written to encourage fellow Japanese in the north.

To me, it seems to connote layers of meaning. There are indeed many eyes watching Japan from the world: sympathetic and caring eyes for those affected by the natrual disaster, and at the same time, eyes with anxiety and maybe accusation for the subsequent nuke problem.

Haiku is short and small, but is really like a deep pond.

Haiga 565 Utsuyoshi Endo haiku - haiku from north

Haiku by Utsuyoshi Endo. Artwork and English translation by myself.

Mr. Endo lives in Yamagata Prefecture. He is a board member of a nation wide organization of small commerce and industry. Though Yamagata escaped direct damage by the earthquake, the area where many of Endo's friends and fellow members run business did not. He's been busy frequenting the disaster areas to push forward the restoration activities.

I happened to find Endo's blog, while I was searching haiku from the disaster area. Endo san is a haijin also, and writing haiku in the middest of restoration activities. He's agreed to publish his haiku here on my blog.

Basho in musical

This is the flyer announcing the musical performance of Basho's "Narrow Road to the Deep North". Two nights performance: April 15th, and 16th at National Bunraku Theater in Osaka.
Original script is written by Wakei san, a shamisen and kouta (traditional Japanese song) master. Wakai san is the one who encouraged me to complete haiga of the Basho's travel journal. He's been preparing for this performance for over two years, and I am so happy for him.
Both Basho and Sora are performed by ex-Takarazuka performers. Takarazuka is the women only performance group in Japan.
I have another engagement so I cannot make it. I am putting the flyers here, and that is the least I can do to congratulate Wakai san's accomplishment. Below is the back of the flyer.

Haiga 564 Stanford Forrester haiku - dust

Haiku by Stanford Forrester. Artwork by myself.

Each particle of dust is so minute that we tend to neglect it everyday. It however accumulates daily and eventually becomes a stain. Once the stain appears, getting rid of it become very difficult.

I am seeing this nuke problem at the Fukushima power plant as the stain.
Everybody concerned seem to have own agenda about the nuke project. Some were good agenda based on the safety of the facility, but others were on self-centered profit gain, in another word, greed, and that is the dust that has accumulated over time.

There is no good and evil about technology. If the technology failed, the cause would most likely be the dust of the mind. And the dust comes back quickly. So, if the nuke power plant is to be rebuild, checking of the mind is more important than the technology itself.

Haiga 563 Matsuo Basho haiku - Kisakata

Haiku by Matsuo Basho. Artwork by myself.

After having visited Matsushima, Hiraizumi, Basho crossed the mountains and reached the Japan Sea side. His intention was to visit Kisakata whose beauty then equaled that of Matsushima. Looking at the sight before his eyes, Basho, who loved old Chinese literature, remembered Seishi, a beauty who led unfortunate life, and wrote this haiku.

In his "Narrow Road to the Deep North" Basho wrote:
[Kisakata]......As we sat in a room at the front of the temple and rolled up the screens, the entire landscape unfolded before us. To the south, Mount Chōkai propped up the sky, its image reflected in the water. To the west, the Muyamuya Barrier blocked the road. To the east, the road to Akita stretched out on an embankment far into the distance. To the north was the sea, whose waves broke into the lagoon at a place called Shiogoshi [Tide-Crossing]. Kisakata, which is little more than two miles long and wide, reminded me of Matsushima; but there was a difference. Whereas Matsushima seemed to smile, Kisakata had a gloomy, bitter air. The lonely, melancholy scene evoked a troubled human soul:

Kisakata rain –
Seishi lying all asleep with
wet mimosa flowers

Kisakata went through a big topographical change by the 1804 earthquake, 175 year after Basho praised its beauty. Kisakata now is mostly farm lands. Beautiful small islands only remain as mounds here and there.

Haiga 562 Catherine Mair haiku

Haiku by Catherine Mair of New Zealand.

There was an earthquake in New Zealand, and now here in Japan, a lot bigger ones. Many aftershocks follow.

It's been a month now, but the aftershocks continue to occur. While I was in Tokyo from 9th through 11th, I felt them often. They get really spooky when lying on bed. Otherwise, life in Tokyo has returned to almost nomal, no more lining up for the daily needs, no controled bkackout, and such.

About a hour and half after I left Tokyo on Shinkansen (bullet train), yet another aftershock occured, killing electricity in some areas, disrupting train schedules and such. My train was already far away then so it did not stop, and I was able to return home safely.

Shidare (drooping) sakura - now and then

This is one sakura tree I am very proud of. Actually there are two more nearby, and they are all in full bloom now.
As you can see, this type of sakura tree needs a lot of support poles for its willow-like branches. Without these supports, the sakura would never be able to show its splendid appearance.

One's life is like this sakura tree, being sustained by so many people and things, and by something great. I keep reminding it to myself, and be always grateful.

There was a rather big earthquake again in the northern area. Another blackout throughout the area. Hope this does not lessen the spirit among the affected people there.

Sakura flowers sway,
by spring wind or
by aftershock?

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I will be out of town for a few days starting tomorrow. Off to Tokyo. Maybe no update of blog during the time.

Haiga 561 Kuni Shimizu haiku - Origami cranes

Haiku and artwork by myself.

One's feeling is best expressed and communicates well when shown in action. A batch of a thousand origami cranes is traditionally an expression of sympathy and encouragement in Japan. The act of folding paper is a good way for everybody to express one's feeling. Each action is small, but precious. Each crane, when accumulated, exerts big impression.

Ramona Linke san of Germany emailed me, informing about origami cranes project. I cannot read German written on the webpage, but I am deeply grateful that people out there are taking their time to send to us Japanese good energy in the form of origami cranes.

Other than the origami cranes, people in the world are extending to us numerous helping hands, to which I bow deeply.

BTW, the lines in the haiga show the steps in holding the origami crane.

Haiga 560 Kuniahru Shimizu haiku

Haiku and artwork by myself.

So much and so many were lost and being lost. Besides the damage at the directly affected sites, the aftershocks of the event slowly spreading out to many segments of society as a whole. The affected regions had many factories that produce products for automobile and train, computer, printing paper and ink, building materials, foods, electricity, and what not. The loss of these products is affecting not only domestically but internationally.

It is as if a body called Japan is afflicted somewhere near its heart and it is affecting from the top of head to the tip of foot fingers, and neighbors are all worried.
Considering the magnitude of affliction, recuperating will take time, even with well-known Japanese efficiency. We all will need to share the pain of rehabillitation process, too. Slowly but surely we will go.

Haiga 559 Ui Togen haiku

Haiku by Ui Togen. Artwork by myself.

Togen is one of the young haijin who are trying to put some dents in the contemporary Japanese haiku. His haiku here is surrealistic, and to me, it seems to remind what is happening at Fukushima Nuke plant.

The reactors there are still, look as if they are sleeping. Though there is no fire now, high temperature remains. The nuke bars are melting themselves with their own heat, emitting invisible radiation. The cooling water is polluted by radiation, and being dumped into the ocean. The whole scene is so surreal but is an undeniable reality.

Another haijin, Ban'ya Natsuishi's (夏石番矢）recent haiku:

Fukushima の火は牙をむき水は泣く

Fukushima fire
bares its fangs
water weeping

Wedding Anniversary

Today, April 4th, is the day we married 36 year ago. The photo here was taken this winter, we were dressed up for a wedding which we attended as the matchmakers.

The other day, when we were heading to a coffee shop nearby, she said to me "You're my intimate friend, my only one". I do not remember in which context she mentioned it, but I have the same sentiment lately so I replied "Likewise here".

After so many years together, after many ups and downs, we both are glad we are still good friends

Haiga 558 A.C. Missias haiku

Haiku by A.C. Missias. Artwork by myself.

Wake up in a morning, the sun's up, your day begins.
Usual routine occupies most of your day, and an uneventful day ends.
Just another day.

In the TV interviews at evacuees' camps, I hear everybody wishing that the normal life before will return soon. For those affected by the disaster, "just another day" is the most precious thing now.

That we are able to lead everyday life in normal condition is actually the blessing, the most wonderful gift.
We must not forget about it, and always keep appreciative mind to it.

Haiga 557 Spring sky

Haiku by myself. Photo by Jesse Wright (@fessewright)

I found this photograph online. I do not know the photographer, but I thought it was a very good image. Haiku I added is my interpretation of the image.

The earthquake and the tsunami left so many people without homes, without the loved ones, without works. There must be so many things to worry about in their minds. Considering the magnitude of the disaster, the life will not return to normal soon. Yet, just as a new season comes, the situation will certainly change, for the better.