Oden hodgepodge

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Oden, O-Den hodgepodge おでん　御田

***** Location:　Japan
***** Season: All Winter
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation



A Japanese hodgepodge dish or kind of stew, containing all kinds of ingredients cooked in a special broth of soy sauce, sugar, sake, etc.
The ingredients are simmered in an earthen pot, the sound of the broth is referred to as gutsugutsu and felt rather pleasant.
Eating oden is a relaxing family event or a sad lone dinner at one of the many food stalls around each station of Japan.
Spending a long winter night with friends, sipping ricewine, complaining about life and munching bits and pieces of oden is a fond winter pastime.


simmering oden
nikomi oden 煮込みおでん（にこみおでん）
simmering it "Kanto style", kantoodaki 関東煮（かんとうだき）
preferred in the area around Tokyo and the Kanto plain

oden ingredients, oden dane おでん種（おでんだね）
simmering oden, oden niru おでん煮る



oden stall, oden store, odenya おでん屋（おでんや）



Matsuo Basho himself was fond of konyaku oden (gelatinous food made from devil's-tongue starch).


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Quote from the Japan Times

Oden : Japanese for 'soul food'
By ROBBIE SWINNERTON

For some this is soul food, warming and comforting; for others it is the rank smell of culture shock. Whichever side of the great divide you stand, though, one thing is certain: Your local convenience store will never deliver the authentic taste of any food. For that, you need to go to the source, to a long-established specialist.

Tradition runs strong in Senzoku, on the northern fringe of Asakusa, and nowhere is this more evident than at Otafuku. This family operation, currently run by the fourth and fifth generations of the Funadaiku family, has been serving its specialty here since 1916.

There is a small dining room at the back with tatami mats and low tables. But the seats of choice for the predominantly local clientele (you are way off the tourist trail here) are the low-slung chairs at the counter, from where they observe the proceedings, chat with the two Funadaiku brothers, and order their meals, one piece at a time, much as you would at a sushi shop.

Not surprisingly, Otafuku prepares its oden in the robust Kanto style, seasoned with dark shoyu (soy sauce). The ingredients — predominantly of seafood, tofu or vegetable origin — are gently simmered for a couple of hours until they are infused with the rich, savory essence of that broth. What is less usual is the wide variety of different items to choose from.

All the usual suspects are present and correct: whole, hard-boiled eggs; slabs of firm tofu; thick rounds of daikon radish; satsuma-age (deep-fried fish paste); and dark, rubbery konnyaku (devil's tongue root jelly), all texture and minimal flavor. There are more exotic offerings too: uzura no tamago (skewered quail eggs); iidako (miniature octopuses); and even whale tongue and blubber.

Our perennial favorites are the tsumire, flavorful balls of ground sardine, and the kyabetsu maki, cabbage leaf stuffed with finely ground beef. Both of these have plenty of inherent flavor that does not get lost in the long simmering process. Everything does start to taste a bit repetitive after a while; that is why each serving comes with a powerful dab of fiery yellow mustard to cauterize any staleness from your palate and sinuses.

Oden is by definition snacking food, in classic izakaya style. It's there to accompany the sake — and here you won't go wrong with the resinous taruzake, sake poured straight from the wooden cask on the counter. Chilled, it is served in wooden masu box cups, with a little salt on the side; to appreciate its full perfume, it is better warmed (ask for okan).

Here are some of our favorites from Kyoto : kyo-ganmo — small golden balls of deep-fried tofu mashed with flecks of carrot and seaweed, with a delicate quail's egg at their center; daikon — always the benchmark of any oden shop, here the vegetable retains its natural flavor, texture and color, and is among the best you will find; iwashi tsumire — small, dark, intensely flavored balls of minced sardine; tori supaisu tsukune — balls of ground chicken meat, slightly crunchy in texture like the tsukune served at yakitori shops, but here spiked with piquant black pepper; satsukuri-san — sweet-potato puree formed into a soft disk shape, with a piece of chestnut in the center; and kabomaru-san — an excellent autumn special, prepared from pureed kabocha pumpkin studded with raisins to give an extra dimension of natural sweetness.

Although each serving is accompanied by the standard dash of karashi mustard, we find we leave it untouched, as we don't want to override the natural flavors of the oden.

Read the full article here
from the Japan Times, Nov. 2, 2007

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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way

. Shizuoka Oden Yokocho 静岡 おでん横丁 .

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WASHOKU

In Japan, the choice of what to serve for a meal, and how to present it, is intimately linked to nature and embellished by cultural nuance. Each month in the Japanese kitchen, and at table, has a distinct seasonal identity, complete with its own legends and festivals, and the motifs and color schemes associated with them.

Modern-day oden traces its roots back to the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) and a dish called DENGAKU in which skewered tofu, slathered with a sweet and spicy miso paste, was broiled.

Read more and a few recipies HERE
©　www.tasteofculture.com


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HAIKU

飲みすぎのおでん野郎に黄のからし
nomisugi no oden yaroo ni ki no karashi

for the drunk
with too much oden -
yellow mustard

　©　草若葉
Tr. Gabi Greve

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浮き沈みある世想いておでん煮る
uki shizumi aru yo omoide oden niru

thinking about
the ups and downs of life -
I simmer oden

　©　haiku tabi nitijou
Tr. Gabi Greve

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ことごとく意見の合はぬおでん鍋
kotogotoku iken no awanu oden nabe

really,
our opinions are so different -
oden pot

Saika Junko 雑賀純子


I imagine an old couple, sitting in comfort with the oden pot, nibbling and complaining anyway, just like in the next haiku.



ぐつぐつとおでんぐつぐつぐつと愚痴
gutsugutsu to oden gutsugutsu gutto guchi

gutsugutsu
oden simmering gutsugutsu ...
and we complain heartily

Ebiko Raiji 蛯子雷児


hokui40 collection
Tr. Gabi Greve

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Related words

***** Japanese Food to keep you warm in Winter

***** Food from Japan (washoku)


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Pampas grass (susuki, kaya)

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Pampas grass (susuki, obana)

***** Location: Japan, other areas
***** Season: various, see below
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

Miscanthus species, usually M. sinensis
Papmas grass is native to Japan and China, it grows everywhere near rivers and in mountainous plains.
It is one of the seven plants of autumn and as kigo best know in autumn, together with the moon.

Seven Flowers of Autumn (aki no nanakusa).. Seven Herbs of Autumn


susuki 薄 (すすき) pampas grass
..... 芒（すすき）


Kaya 萱 is an older name, kaya was often used to thatch the roofs of old farmhouses.

The ears, plumes of this grass are also called
"tail flowers", obana 尾花.


yoshi / ashi 葦、芦、蘆、葭 reed grass
Phragmites australis


ogi 荻 (おぎ) common reed
Miscanthus sacchariflorus

. Ogikubo 荻窪 Ogikubo district .
Suginami, Tokyo


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Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, Maiden grass, Zebra grass, Porcupine Grass; syn. Eulalia japonica Trin., Miscanthus sinensis f. glaber Honda, Miscanthus sinensis var. gracillimus Hitchc., Miscanthus sinensis var. variegatus Beal, Miscanthus sinensis var. zebrinus Beal, Saccharum japonicum Thunb.) is a grass native to eastern Asia throughout most of China, Japan and Korea.

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 0.8-2 m (rarely 4 m) tall, forming dense clumps from an underground rhizome. The leaves are 18–75 cm long and 0.3–2 cm broad. The flowers are purplish, held above the foliage.

© More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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............... SPRING

In early spring, many susuki fields are burned down to fertilize and make space for the new harvest. In many areas this is an activity of the whole community, involving the fire brigade to make sure not too much is burned down.


blackened pampas grass, suguro no susuki
末黒の薄 すぐろのすすき
kuro-u no susuki 黒生の芒（くろうのすすき）

burned fields of pampas grass, yakeno no susuki
焼野の芒（やけののすすき）

buds of papmas grass, susuki no me 芒の芽（すすきのめ）

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kigo for mid-spring

tsubana 茅花 (つばな) Chigaya flowers, reed grass flowers
Imperata cylindrica
chigaya no hana
茅萱の花（ちがやのはな）、tsubana no 茅花野（つばなの）
tsubana 針茅（つばな）、chibana ちばな、
asajigana 浅茅が花（あさじがはな）
shirahagusa しらはぐさ
tsubana meku 茅花ぬく（つばなぬく）

. haru no mizu sumire tsubana o nurashi-yuku .
Yosa Buson

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kigo for late spring

ashi wakaba 蘆若葉 (あしわかば) young leaves of ashi
..... waka ashi 若蘆（わかあし）
ashi no wakaba 蘆の若葉（あしのわかば）


harugaya 春茅 (はるがや) kaya in spring


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............... SUMMER

green pampas grass, ao susuki 青芒 (あおすすき)
luxuriant pampas grass, susuki shigeru 芒茂る (すすきしげる)


green rushes, aoashi ao-ashi 青蘆（青葦） (あおあし)
Phragmites species


セミナリヨ跡の青蘆信長忌
seminario ato no ao ashi Nobunaga ki

green rushes grow
over the seminary remains -
Nobunaga Memorial Day

Sano Michi 佐野美智

. Nobunaga Ki 信長忌 Nobunaga Memorial Day .



green sedge, aogaya 青萱 (あおがや)
Cyperus species
luxuriant sedge, kaya shigeru 萱茂る (かやしげる)


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Susuki and the Moon,
two ingredients of the Japanese Autumn


............... AUTUMN



pampas grass, susuki 芒 (すすき) 薄
Miscanthus sinensis

flowering pampas grass, hana susuki 花芒 (はなすすき)
ho susuki 穂芒（ほすすき）susuki ears
no susuki 芒野（すすきの） field with susuki
susuki hara 芒原（すすきはら）plain with susuki

susuki chiru 芒散る（すすきちる） susuki is falling apart

ito susuki 糸芒（いとすすき）"susuki strings"
..... oni susuki 鬼芒（おにすすき）、


autumn sweet with ito susuki pattern


masuo no susuki 真赭の芒（ますおのすすき）Masuo-Susuki
..... まそほの芒
..... masuo no ito 真赭の糸（ますおのいと）
a kind with red flowers
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

hitomoto susuki 一本芒（ひともとすすき）one stem of susuki
hitomura susuki 一叢芒（ひとむらすすき）a group of susuki

ten-inch-plume pampas grass, masuho no susuki
十寸穂の芒 (ますほのすすき)


"hawk-feather pampas grass", zebra pampas grass
taka no ha susuki, 鷹の羽芒 (たかのはすすき)
M. sinensis variety zebrinus


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Pampas Grass Memorial Service for Ippen Shonin
susuki nenbutsu-e 薄念仏会 （すすきねんぶつえ）
Memorial Service for Saint Ippen Shonin

At the temple Yugyoji (Yuugyoo-ji) 遊行寺 in Fujizawa on September 15.

In a long vase in front of the alter the priests arrange long susuki ears and pine branches and hang small paper slips from them where the Amida Prayer is written. The service is in memory of Saint Ippen (Ippen Shoonin 一遍上人聖).
一遍上人聖 Japanese reference

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rice gruel .. O-bana no kayu　尾花の粥
..... obana gayu 尾花粥（おばながゆ), obanagayu小花粥（おばながゆ）
..... susuki gayu 薄粥（すすきがゆ）

Roasted ears of the susuki grass were mixed in the rice gruel. It was supposed to have medical properties to keep you fit for the harvest season.

August First, Tea Ceremony

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kigo for mid-autumn

kariyasu 刈安 (かりやす) Miscanthus tinctorius
kugusa 黄草（きぐさ）"yellow plant"
kakina かきな、kaina かいな、someshiba そめしば
kobunagusa 小鮒草（こぶなぐさ）
Hachijoo kariyasu（八丈刈安 はちじょうかりやす）
Miscanthus tinctorius from Hachijoo Island.

Extracts of this plant are used for dyeing cloth.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



ashi no hana 蘆の花 (あしのはな) reed flowers
..... yoshi no hana 葭の花（よしのはな）
ashihara 蘆原（あしはら）field with reeds
..... yoshihara 葭原（よしはら）
ashi no aki 蘆の秋（あしのあき）autumn of the reed
..... yoshi no aki 、葭の秋（よしのあき）


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kigo for late autumn

kaya 萱 (か) miscanthus. Schilfgras
kaya no ho 萱の穂（かやのほ）ears of miscanthus
kayahara 萱原（かやはら）field with miscanthus


kaya karu 萱刈る (かやかる) cutting miscanthus (reeds)
kaya fuku 萱葺く（かやふく）thatching a roof
. . . . . ashi kari 蘆刈 (あしかり) cutting reeds
and more KIGO with kaya and reeds



ashi no howata 蘆の穂絮 (あしのほわた) ears of reed grass
ashi no ho wata
..... ashi no ho 蘆の穂（あしのほ）




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kigo for all autumn

karu kaya 刈萱 (かるかや) Kangaroo Grass
Themeda triandra var. japonica.
ogaru kaya 雄刈萱（おがるかや）
megaru kaya 雌刈萱（めがるかや）
kakeigusa,kake igusa 筧草（かけいぐさ）


chigaya 白茅 (ちがや) Imperata cylindrica, Alang-Alang
cogon grass
chi 茅（ち）、kaya 茅（かや）asaji 浅茅 / 淺茅（あさぢ）
Imperata cylindrica. Steppengrass


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ogi 荻 (おぎ) common reed
kazakikigusa 風聞草（かざききぐさ）
nezamegusa 寝覚草（ねざめぐさ）
ogihara 荻原（おぎはら）field with common reed
hamaogi 浜荻（はまおぎ）common reed on a beach


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kigo for early autumn

ogi no koe 荻の声 'おぎのこえ) "voice of the common reed"
ogi no kaze 荻の風（おぎのかぜ）wind in the common reed
oki fuku 荻吹く（おぎふく）
sasara no ogi ささらの荻（ささらのおぎ）


死神は美男なるべし荻の声
. shinigami wa binan narubeshi ogi no koe .
Ikeda Sumiko 池田澄子 (1936 - )


observance at Yoshida Sengen Shrine

. Susuki matsuri 芒祭（すすきまつり）"pampas grass festival" 　


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............... WINTER

susuki in winter, fuyu susuki 冬芒 (ふゆすすき)
kan susuki 寒薄 (かんすすき) susuki in the cold
Tokiwa susuki 常盤薄（ときわすすき）Giant Chinese Silver Grass
Miscanthus floridulus
Arihara susuki 在原薄（ありはらすすき）



withered pampas grass, kare susuki 枯薄（かれすすき）
..... kare-obana 枯尾花, 枯れ尾花(かれおばな)
dry miscanthus


pampas grass withered, susuki karu 薄枯る（すすきかる）
..... obana karu 尾花枯る（おばなかる)
..... susuki kareha 薄枯葉（すすきかれは）

pampas grass withered by frost, shimogare susuki
霜枯薄（しもがれすすき）







withered rushes 枯蘆 (かれあし) kareashi, kare ashi
ashi no kareha 蘆の枯葉（あしのかれは）
withered leaves of rushes
kareashiwara 枯蘆原（かれあしわら）field with withered rushes
kanro 寒蘆（かんろ） rushes in the cold



. karekaya, kare kaya 枯萱（かれかや） 　
withered kaya rushes


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way

. Fukiyachoo 葺屋町 Fukiyacho District of roof thatchers .

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August :
Moon and Pampass Grass, Susuki ni Tsuki　
ススキに月 , 月に薄
Flower Trump (hanafuda) and Haiku

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The Rabbit pounding rice in the full moon



Pounding rice (mochi tsuki, mochitsuki) and haiku


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HAIKU

ともかくもならでや雪の枯尾花
tomokakumo narade ya yuki no kare obana
tomokaku mo narade ya yuki no kareobana

well, yes, somehow
I made it - snow
on the withered pampas grass


Here Basho refers to the fact that after a long and difficult journey he finally made it despite all odds, without meeting his death, to the town of Edo. He may be getting old and fragile, like pampas grass bends in heavy snow, but he is still up and writing poetry.
Written in 1691.


The expression
tomokaku mo naru ともかくも なる
It will become so, there is nothing I can do about.
Often used with reference to the death of a human being.

(Tut marker YA is in the middle of line 2.)

. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


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ともかくも風にまかせてかれ尾花　
tomokaku mo kaze ni makasete kare-obana

anyway
leave it to the wind -
withered pampas grass

or

anyway
it is at the mercy of the wind -
withered pampas grass


Chiyo-Ni 千代尼

a honkadori to the poem by Basho.


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- - - - - Kobayashi Issa - - - - -
Tr. David Lanoue

withered grassland--
once upon a time there was
a female demon...

枯すすきむかし婆々鬼あったとさ
kare susuki mukashi baba oni atta to sa

Issa /Demons and Haiku

. . .

穂すすきや細き心のさわがしき
ho susuki ya hosoki kokoro no sawagashiki

plumes of pampas grass--
the thin hearts
swishing

誰ぞ来よ来よとてさわぐすすき哉
tare zo ko yo ko yo tote sawagu susuki kana

come one! come all!
the rustling
pampas grass

. . .

夕立の枕元よりすすき哉
yûdachi no makura moto yori susuki kana

extending from my pillow
in the downpour...
pampas grass

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穂すすきや細き心のさわがしき
ho susuki ya hosoki kokoro no sawagashiki

slender-hearted
tufted miscanthus grass
rustling, trembling
Tr. Chris Drake

This autumn hokku was found among Issa's papers after his death, so it probably comes from the final period of his life. The tall (3-10') susuki grass Issa is watching and listening to is often called "Japanese pampas grass," but strictly speaking it is miscanthus grass (Miscanthus sinensis). A look at photo will show that miscanthus is slightly slimmer than true pampas grass, and its tufts are more like soft tassels than the long plumes of the pampas grass, which can almost suggest spearheads. It is also different from eulalia grass. The most popular common names for miscanthus grass in English are maiden grass and Chinese silver grass, though susuki grass seems to be catching up. It grows in clumps, and in the early fall each tall but slender stalk puts out even more slender 6-8" tassels at the top that resemble golden cords. In dry weather the tassels are a bit stiff, though they bend and move in the wind. But when they are wet by rain the tassels often droop and hang down like long hair. Both the leaves of the stalks and the tassels rustle, but the sound from the leaves is stronger and in Japanese traditional poetry often suggests voices.

In this hokku Issa speaks of whole stalks of miscanthus grass that have put out tufts of slender tassels at their tops. In virtually the slightest breeze the tassels move, and with a little wind the whole thin stalk also sways a little, so miscanthus grass has, since the days of early medieval waka, been associated being "slender-hearted" or having "slender hearts": being extremely sensitive, feeling a sense of general loneliness, having a tendency to feel anxious or forlorn or having feelings of helplessness. Being slender-hearted was regarded positively by waka poets and critics and believed to be a prerequisite for writing waka able to evoke the sublime, transcendent, mysterious beauty sometimes called yuugen. I wonder if Keats' "negative capability" -- "... when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason...." -- wouldn't be one good translation for the openness to change and creative anxiety implied by "slender-hearted." Basho also talked of hosomi or slenderness in terms of the inseparability of beauty from anxiety, sadness, and change.

The word Issa uses in line three refers to how this slender-heartedness, this restless anxiety and sensitivity of the heart-mind, express themselves physically. The rustling of the leaves and tassels make audible the trembling that is going on in the heart-minds (kokoro) of the miscanthus grass and no doubt in Issa's own heart-mind as he hears their sounds and sees their swaying. This is of course personification, but it also draws on the Buddhist belief that plants and trees have various forms of consciousness and can achieve enlightenment. I wonder if Issa doesn't recognize in the trembling, rustling heart-minds of the miscanthus grasses an open admission of some sort by the grasses of their complete dependence on the wind and on Amida Buddha.

I think Issa regarded miscanthus grass stalks not only as parallel but different companions on the path leading through areas of the Pure Land in the present life but also as a mirror for getting a better view of himself, as in these hokku:

ho-susuki ya ore ga tsuburi mo tomo-soyogi

tufted tall grass --
my head, too, sways
with your swaying

- and

ho-susuki ya ore ga kobin mo tomo-soyogi

tufted tall grass --
my loose hairs sway
with your swaying

The miscanthus grass seems to teach Issa about the value of tremblings and rustlings in himself he wasn't completely aware of before.

Chris Drake


. Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 in Edo .


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this spider net
hanging in mid air -
just for me ?

　©　Gabi Greve, Japan, October 2007


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waking up
to a load of snow -
susuki bending low



Gabi Greve, January 2011


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Related words

kigo for mid-spring

***** horns of reeds (ashi no tsuno)
蘆の角 (あしのつの)
sprouts of reeds
..... ashi no me 蘆の芽 (あしのめ) ashi buds
ashi no kiri 蘆の錐（あしのきり）"drill of ashi grass"
tsunogumu ashi 角組む蘆（つのぐむあし）
ashikabi 蘆芽（あしかび）



ogi no tsuno 荻の角 (おぎのつの) "horns of ogi"
tsunogumu ogi 角組む荻（つのぐむおぎ）
ogi no me 荻の芽（おぎのめ）buds of ogi


kigo for late spring

ashi wakaba 蘆若葉 (あしわかば) young sprouts of ashi
waka ashi 若蘆（わかあし）"young ashi"
ashi no wakaba 蘆の若葉（あしのわかば）

ogi wakaba 荻若葉 (おぎわかば) young sprouts of ogi
waka ogi 若荻（わかおぎ）
ogi no futaba 、荻の二葉（おぎのふたば）

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***** Reed, cutting reed grass (ashi kari)


***** . suge 菅 Suge sedge
Carex morrowii


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kigo for all summer

***** igusa 藺 (い) rush, Binse
..... igusa 藺草（いぐさ）
Juncus effusus
ida 藺田（いだ）field with rushes
hosoi 細藺（ほそい） thin rush
tooshingusa 燈心草（とうしんぐさ） "wick rush"
The stem had been used to make wicks for oil lamps.

futoi, futo i 太藺 (ふとい) bulrush
lit. "fat rush"
Scirpus tabernaemontani, Teichsimse
- - - - -
gama 蒲 (がま) Gama cattail, reed mace
Phalaris arundinacea

. gamamushiro 蒲筵 (がまむしろ) mat from gama .



kigo for mid-summer


i no hana 藺の花 (いのはな) flower of the rush


. i karu 藺刈る (いかる) harvesting rushes .
..... ikari, i kari 藺刈（いかり）
i hosu 藺干す（いほす）drying rushes
and more kigo about igusa


Igusa is the main material for the tatami floor mats.
Tatami is made with a rush plant, igusa. Rush is planted in the rice fields in August.
Tatami is made from natural igusa . . .
. Tatami 畳 floor mats .


kigo for late summer
gama no ho 蒲の穂 ( がまのほ) ears of Gama cattail
..... gama no hana 蒲の花（がまのはな）flowers of Gama cattail
gamaboko 蒲鉾（がまぼこ）



hamasuge, hama suge 浜菅 (はますげ) coco-grass
purple nut sedge, red nut sedge
..... koobushi こうぶし
Cyperus rotundus


yuusuge, yuu suge 夕菅 (ゆうすげ) tall daylily, with yellow flowers
lit. "evening Suge"
kisuge, ki suge 黄菅（きすげ） "yellow Suge"
Hemerocallis thunbergii


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kigo for all summer

***** kusayoshi 草葭 (くさよし) reed canarygrass
Phalaris arundinacea


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***** Seven herbs of autumn (aki no nanakusa)


***** shino 篠 small kind of bamboo
shinodake 篠竹, medake メダケ（雌竹）
Pleioblastus Simonii
shinohara 篠原 arrow bamboo grove

. WKD : Bamboo (take 竹) .


. PLANTS - - - the Complete SAIJIKI . 　

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Rain on Cherry Blossoms

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"Rain on Blossoms" (hana no ame)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Late Spring
***** Category: Heavens

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Explanation


"rain on blossoms", "rain an blooms", "rain on flowers", "blossom rain"
hana no ame　花の雨
rain on cherry blossoms etc.

rain during the time of cherry blossoms, hanadoki no ame
花時の雨（はなどきのあめ）




Since in the Japanese haiku vocabulary, HANA is identical with the cherry blossoms, there is no doubt when using this expression. In other languages, it is usually not enought to convey this strong meaning and we should make sure the reader understands the connotations. Best use a footnote, but at least translate it as

rain on cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms in the rain, ... many more versions are possible.

A cold and chilly rain during the cherry blossom viewing season. The Japanese brave the weather and go out to enjoy the cherry blossoms anyway, since the time to that is just so limited.


According to the Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, it can also be a metaphor (mitate) for a heavy fall of blossoms/petals.
(In this case, petals falling like a snow strom(hanafubuki 花吹雪) can also be used.）




hanafubuki 花吹雪 "blossom storm"
"blossom blizzard", blossom snowstorm
... sakurafubuki 桜吹雪（さくらふぶき）
hika 飛花（ひか） cherry blossoms flying around


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In "Cherry Blossom Epiphany," Robin Gill translates "hana no ame" as "blossom rain."

Two examples:

yorokobi no namida zo machishi hana no ame

this long-awaited
blossom rain: call it
tears of joy!

Teiji (1645), trans. Gill


hana no ame hito o yowasu ni ware no you

blossom rain
pushing drink on a friend
I end up drunk

Ryooto(1717?), trans. Gill

Of this haiku, Gill notes that:

"Tsuji Momoko, haiku poet herself, explains: 'This is the chilly rain of blossom-viewing time.'"

Ms. Tsuji goes on to contrast the chilliness of 'blossom rain' to the warmth of 'sake' in her explication of this haiku.

Compiled by
Larry Bole, Translating Haiku Forum

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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

花の雨竹にけぶれば真青なり
hana no ame take ni kebureba masao nari

rain on the cherry blossoms
with bamboo in the mist -
so pale and green

Mizuhara Shūōshi 水原秋桜子
Tr. Gabi Greve

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バイブルをよむ寂しさよ花の雨
baiburu o yomu sabishisa yo hana no ame

this loneliness
while I read the bible -
rain on the cherry blossoms

diese Einsamkeit
während ich die Bibel lese -
Kirschblütenregen

Sugita Hisajo 杉田久女
Tr. Gabi Greve


*****************************
Related words

***** Cherry Blossoms (sakura, hana) ...
and many related kigo

***** Rain in various KIGO

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Lamp light

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Lamp light (lamplight) in autumn (shuutoo)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: All autumn
***** Category: Humanity

for lamplight in other seasons, see below

*****************************
Explanation

When the evenings start earlier, nights getting longer, its time to get out the lamps (consider you have no electricity in the Edo period).　
It is a time for huddeling together and become quiet looking in a candle light.


It is also a time to sit in peace and read a good book under the lamp light.

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lamp in autumn, autumn lantern, autumn lamplight,

shuutoo 秋燈, 秋灯（しゅうとう）
..... aki no hi 秋の燈 (あきのひ)
"autumn with lamp light", tooka no aki 燈火の秋（とうかのあき）

familiar lamp light, intimate lamp light
tooka shitashimu 燈火親しむ（とうかしたしむ)
"under the lamp light", tooka shitashi 燈下親し (とうかしたし)



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Worldwide use

Germany

Lampenschein, Lampenlicht


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Things found on the way

Lamp light in spring (shuntoo　春灯) is a more pleasant thing, with evenings getting shorter.

............................................


Choochin, Andon, Japanese lanterns and Daruma
Chochin, Akachochin



. Kanto 竿燈 Lantern Festival in Akita 　


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HAIKU

秋灯や夫婦互に無き如く　　　
shuutoo ya fuufu tagai ni naki gotoku

under the autumn lantern -
a couple sits there
ignoring each other　　　　

Takahama Kyoshi 高浜　虚子
Tr. Gabi Greve

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LAMPLIGHT in translations of haiku by Issa

灯ちらちら疱瘡小家の吹雪哉
hi chira-chira mogasa ko ie no fubuki kana

lamplight flickers
in the smallpox shack...
a blizzard



行灯で飯くふ人やかへる雁
andon de meshi kuu hito ya kaeru kari

eating his rice
by lamplight...
the geese depart



草の蚤はらはらもどる火かげ哉
kusa no nomi hara-hara modoru hokage kana

the grasses' fleas
pitter-patter move...
lamplight's shade


More:
Tr. David Lanoue

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hi ni nute ko ni oshiyuru ji aki no ame

sewing in the lamplight
I teach spelling to my child –
autumn rain

(Tr. Makoto Ueda)

Nähend im Lampenlicht
mit dem Kind buchstabieren –
Herbstregen

Tr. Angelika Wienert

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A falling blossom
Floats past a window’s lamplight
Inside, typing words

　©　Jim Molnar

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Lamplight, tomoshibi, 灯火 , hi 火
topic for haiku


灯火やかすみながらに夜が明る
tomoshibi ya kasumi nagara ni yo ga akeru

lamplight
in the spring mist...
dawn

Issa
Tr. David Lanoue

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ランプ売るひとつランプを霧にともし
ranpu uru hitotsu ranpu o kiri ni tomoshi

a lamp vendor
put on a light
in the fog

Azumi Atsushi 安住敦

He wrote the haiku after the war in Toky（1946）.
Tr. Etsuko Yanagibori


*****************************
Related words


***** summer lamp, natsu tomoshi 夏燈 (なつともし)
summer lantern light, natsu no hi 夏の燈（なつのひ）
cool lantern light, hi suzushi 燈涼し（ひすずし）


***** winter lamp, fuyu tomoshi 冬燈　（ふゆともし）


***** Dawn moon in autumn (ariakezuki)

***** Candle (roosoku) Japan, worldwide

***** Lantern (andon, choochin)

***** Stone lanterns in the garden (ishi dooroo) Japan


***** Bon, the Ancestors' Festival (o-bon)
Ceremonial use of lights, lanterns and candles in Japan.


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White Breath (shiraiki)

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White Breath (shiraiki)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: All winter
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation


breath is white, iki shiroshi 息白し (いきしろし)
white breath, shiraiki 白息（しらいき）




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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

shiraishi no inu mo yorokobu sanpomichi



the white breath
makes even the dog happy -
daily walk

©　蓮 さん Ren san
Tr. Gabi Greve

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Even the laundry room vent
exhales a white breath -
approaching winter.

©　John Thomas, 1999

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white breath
clear sunrise
the long parking lot

Haiku Writing Roundtable, Fall 2004

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Related words

***** Winter (fuyu, Japan)

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Sweet Osmanthus

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Sweet Osmanthus

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Late autumn
***** Category: Plant

*****************************
Explanation




Sweet Osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans)
Sweet Olive, Tea Olive, Fragrant Olive

golden sweet olive, gold mokusei, kin mokusei
金木犀（きんもくせい）

fragrant olive, mokusei, 木犀 (もくせい)
flower of the mokusei, mokusei no hana
木犀の花（もくせいのはな）

silver mokusei, fragrant white olive, gin mokusei
銀木犀（ぎんもくせい）


light yellow mokusei, usugi mokusei
薄黄木犀（うすぎもくせい）


The origin of this tree is China, but now it is well loved to give some fragrance to the Japanese garden since the Edo period. The smell reaches far and therefore the flower is sometimes even called " "Smelling for seven (or nine) RI of distance" (七里香, 九里香).
A "Ri" is a little less than 4 kilometers or almost two and a half miles.

Gekkitsu ゲッキツ　(月橘): This is also the name of a tree of the citrus group with fragrant blossoms.

The bush has many small branches with many fragrant flowers of various colors, hence the names given above..

Gabi Greve

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The Sweet Osmanthus (Latin name: Osmanthus fragrans; also known as Sweet Olive, Tea Olive and Fragrant Olive) is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 5-12 m tall. It is native to Asia, from the Himalaya east through China to Japan.

The leaves are 5-10 cm long, entire or finely toothed. Its flowers, produced through the summer, are small (1 cm long), white, with a four-lobed corolla and have a strong fragrance.

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens (both in Asia and elsewhere in the world) for its deliciously fragrant flowers which carry the scent of ripe peaches or apricots. There are two very fine examples in the public gardens in Menaggio on the shores of Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy.

The plant is semi- to moderately-hardy and will survive light frost but will not survive a prolonged or hard freeze.
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !


fragrant white olive


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

秋告げる香りはなってキンモクセ
aki tsugeru kaori hanatte kinmokuse

telling of autumn,
the scent of
kinmokusei

-Saeko Takada、Haiku Village 1998

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Walking to school
I smell a faint
of Kinmokusei

Sachiko Endou, 1996

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Vivo de prisa.
"kinmokusei" avisa
para, respira.

I live hastily
"kinmokusei" says
stop, breathe.

Ana Acosta, Mexico 2001



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Related words

***** oobai 黄梅 (おうばい) "yellow plum". Winter Jasmine
geishunka, geishun ka 迎春花（げいしゅんか）
flower to welcome spring
Jasminum nudiflorum
kigo for early spring


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Chill

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Chill , chilly, chilled

***** Location: Worldwide
***** Season: Various, see below.
***** Category: Season

*****************************
Explanation

There are various ways to express CHILL in Japanese, hie 冷 for autumn is the most common of them.
For some expressions, a month or season must be named especially to make them kigo.

Let us look at some.

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SPRING

chill on the cherry blossoms, hanabie
花冷 (はなびえ)
..... hana no hie 花の冷え（はなのひえ）


April chill

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SUMMER

chill during the rainy season, tsuyubie
梅雨冷え　（つゆびえ）

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AUTUMN

early or mid autumn

autumn chill, shuurei 秋冷)しゅうれい)
chilly, cool, hiyayaka 冷やか (ひややか)
to be chilly, hiyuru 冷ゆる (ひゆる)


late autumn

getting chilly and cold, sozoro samu
そぞろ寒 (そぞろさむ)
a bit chilly, a bit cold, yaya samu やや寒 (ややさむ)
somehow, somewhat chilly and cold, uso samu うそ寒 (うそさむ)

dew chill, cold dew, tsuyuzamu 露寒（つゆざむ）

evening chill, cold in the evening, yoi samu 宵寒 (よいさむ)

night chill, cold night, cold at night, yosamu 夜寒 (よさむ)
(yozamu - used by Issa / Lanoue)


on her free day
she wakes up alone
in a cold night . . .

Chyo-Ni about her prostitute friend


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

WINTER

chill after a hot bath, yuzame 湯ざめ ( ゆざめ)
A traditional Japanese bathroom was not heated, so when you leave the hot water you have to dry and dress in the cold.

chill of winter


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

Fingers weaving winds
Into shawls of autumn chill:
Pine trees beckoning.

Michael R. Collings, USA

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kega no ashi kabaite yuzame hayakarishi

injured foot
coming sooner
chill after bath

(Teiko)

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身にしむやなき妻のくし閨に踏
身にしむや亡妻の櫛を閨に踏
mi ni shimu ya naki tsuma ni kushi o neya ni fumu

The piercing chill I feel:
My dead wife's comb, in our bedroom,
Under my heel.
Haiku Translation - Piercing Chill, 2005


quote
piercingly cold
stepping on my dead wife's comb
in the bedroom

The opening phrase, mini ni shimu (literally, to penetrate the body), is an autumn phrase that suggests the chill and sense of loneliness that sinks into the body with the arrival of the autumn cold and that here also functions as a metaphor of the poet's feelings following the death of his wife. The poem generates a novelistic scene of the widower, some time after his wife's funeral, accidentally stepping on a comb in the autumn dark, as he is about to go to bed alone. The standard interpretation is that the snapping of the comb in the bedroom brings back memories of their relationship and has erotic overtones.
But this is not about direct or personal experience. The fact is that Buson (1706-83) composed this while his wife was alive. Indeed Buson's wife Tomo outlived him by 31 years.
source : Haruo Shirane


I am pierced by the cold:
My late wife's comb
Lies underfoot, on the bedroom floor.
Tr. Thomas McAuley


The piercing chill I feel:
my dead wife's comb,
in our bedroom, under my heel...
Tr. Henderson


It goes into me --
the comb of my long gone wife,
to step on it in the bedroom.
Tr. Sawa and Shiffert



. Yosa Buson 与謝蕪村 in Edo .
Taniguchi Buson (1716-1783)



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CHILL WIND, chilly wind
blows in many seasons, a haiku topic

leaving home--
a chill wind ruffles
the cherry blossoms

　©　Sue Mill

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Chill wind
blowing through the ruins of
New York skyscrapers

　©　HIROSHIMA HAIKU

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The chilly wind blows
The season begins to change
Winter's at the door

　©　the masked crusader

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chill wind
the young poet dies
a second time

chill wind whistles
around doors and windows
October song

　©　soji, shiki archives 2000

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In a chilly wind,
A long-distance race --
Runners' white breath.

　©　Tomoaki Ito, Japan

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Chechnya, February 2000

chilly morning
they bury in the mud
his bruised flesh

　©　Serge Tome

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chilly morning -
-------an eagle's talon
---------------nailed to the door

　©　Gabriel Rosenstock, 2003, Simply Haiku

*****************************
Related words

***** Cherry Blossoms (sakura, Japan) ... and many related kigo

***** ... Rainy Season (tsuyu) Japan

***** Autumn (aki) Japan, worldwide

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WKD - Joy (ureshisa)

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Joy, pleasure (ureshisa, tanoshisa)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Humanity

*****************************
Explanation

Usually the kigo itself carries the emotion and mood you want to express in your haiku, so you have to choose your kigo carefully.

Direct expressions of human emotinons are not often used in traditional Japanese haiku, but we have some kigo related to them, see the related words below.


"enjoy" is another word often used in translations.
Basho himself even used the simple AAAH!

ureshii 嬉しさ、うれしい、うれしき
tanoshii 楽しい、楽しさ、たのしい

..................................................................................

When the kids at grammar school in Japan start learning haiku, they are told to write two lines with something nice that makes them happy (or something that makes them sad) ... and the teacher will tell them later which kigo of the seaon would fit their mood.

Read the details of this teaching method here:

Teaching Haiku to Japanese Children



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Kigo for spring

I will check on this interesting kidai more later.

"joy in spring", shunki 春嬉（しゅんき）

spring is pleasant, haru tanoshi 春愉し（はるたのし）

pleasure of spring, shunkyoo 春興 (しゅんきょう)
... haru no kyoo 春の興（はるのきょう）
In the Edo period, haiku poets would come together for the first time in the New Year (which was equal to the first spring of the lunar calendar) and show publications of their works.


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

Matsuo Basho

鷹一つ見付てうれしいらご崎
taka hitotsu mitsukete ureshi Iragosaki

Cape Irago -
I am so happy to observe
a solitary hawk

Tr. Gabi Greve, Hawk and Haiku

...

松島やああ松島や松島や
Matsushima ya aa Matsushima ya Matushima ya

Matsushima!
Aaah! Matsushima!
Matsushima!

Matsushima is one of the three most beautiful areas of Japan. Here Basho expresses his joy, exhilaration, emotion with a simple AAAH!

Basho, Oku no Hosomichi 2007
Gabi Greve

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Kobayashi Issa

永き日や嬉し涙がほろほろと
nagaki hi ya ureshinamida ga horo-horo to

a long day--
my tears of joy
rolling down



短夜の門にうれしき榎哉
mijika yo no kado ni ureshiki enoki kana

short summer night--
at the gate a happy
nettle tree



大根の二葉うれしや秋の風
daikon no futaba ureshi ya aki no kaze

two leaves of radish
rejoice!
autumn wind



小烏も嬉し鳴する稲ほ哉
ko-garasu mo ureshinaki suru inaho kana

the little crow
also weeps for joy...
heads of rice

Tr. David Lanoue

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Yosa Buson (1715-1783)

夏川を越す嬉しさよ手に草履
natsukawa o kosu ureshisa yo te ni zôri

O rio de verão —
Que alegria atravessá-lo
De sandálias à mão.

http://www.kakinet.com/caqui/antojapvn.shtml


so happy
to cross this summer river -
sandals in my hand
Tr. Gabi Greve

.....

目に嬉し戀君の扇真白なり
me ni ureshi koigimi no sen mashiro naru

my eyes feast
on this white folding fan
of my loved one
Tr. Keiko Izawa, 2007


grato ai miei occhi
di te amata il ventaglio
bianchissimo
Tr. ferro3


Radość w jej oczach
wachlarz ukochanego
czysty i biały
Tr. mruffka 89


Sakuo Nakamura had this comment (Translating Haiku Forum)

I think Buson is a colorist painter as well as Haijin. This ku belongs to his consciousness for beauty.
Buson's image inspires in me the color of his lover's cloth.
What color does come to your mind?

In my case, her cloth color is red that is reflecting the surrounding green in this season.
Suppose, there are red and green, and white.
The white enforces the contrast of red and green.

Then first line and the last line become fresh.
[目に嬉しso nice to look at]

[真白なる this white]

.......................


Compiled by Larry Bole :

To my eyes it is delightful--
the fan of my beloved,
completely white.
trans. Sawa and Shiffert


What utter delight
to the eye--my dearest one's fan,
so perfectly white!

trans. Harold Henderson
Henderson notes:
"Fine fans were usually painted, quite often by famous artists."

So maybe there is a suggestion in the haiku that whoever's fan it is, that person is artless; meaning simple, natural, without guile or pretense, ingenuous, innocent. A white fan which hasn't been painted on might appeal to a lover of novelty such as Buson, who sometimes painted haiga on fans.



So happy to the eye,
The pure white fan
Of you whom I dearly love.

trans. Blyth
Blyth notes:
... In the verse above, the mere whiteness of the girl's fan, the fact that it is this colour and no other, is full of grateful significance to the lover, who does not however realize that the meaning of the colour of the fan is partly in his own feelings. At the moment, his emotion is white, and he sees rightly enough what a white fan is, what its whiteness means, why it is white.


delightful to the eye--
the fan of my beloved
is spotlessly white

trans. Ueda
Ueda notes:
Buson held ... hokku-writing meetings throughout 1774, usually producing several poems at each. He also composed many more hokku independently of the meetings. Here [is an example]:
[cited haiku]
[This] poem is another study of the human psyche, in this instance of the secret longing a young woman harbors toward a man. One summer day she observes him leisurely fanning himself, and the whiteness of the fan delights her because her instincts say it is indicative of his spotless character.


I find it interesting that Blyth makes it a girl's fan,
and Ueda makes it a man's fan.


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the whole valley
vibrates with joy
frog concert


summer morning -
the joy of life
unfolds

Look at the haiga HERE !


autumn mandala -
in my garden
with pure joy


© PHOTO and Haiku, Gabi Greve


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Related words

*****... Loneliness, sadness, melancholy and other emotions
sabishisa, kanashisa and more


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***** happiness, bliss (shiawase)
無上の喜び，至福



幸せは足元にあり俳句みち
shiawase wa ashimoto ni aru Haiku michi

happiness
is right at our footsteps -
haiku walk

Gabi Greve, November 2010






. Joy, Happiness, Bliss
An intercultural study.
By Edward Hoffman



List with Japanese HAPPINESS haiku
. しあわせ俳句集


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Haiku Information Board

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Seasons Beginning

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Seasons beginning

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Season

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Explanation

Each change of a season brings a mixed bag of feelings, some people are happy it is over, some would like it to last a bit longer ... all can be expressed in kigo.

Here let us look at some kigo related to the BEGINNING of each season. Each belongs to the "early" part of the season words.

If you can think of different and better ways to translate these words, please let me know.

Gabi Greve


A friend once remarked:
beginning of spring, i'm not sure if this sounds good in a haiku, it seems just a statement rather than an image.

I hope the kigo collection below helps you choose the right kigo for your haiku.

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. . . . . SPRING

Spring, according to the Asian Lunar Calendar, was identical with the New Year.

spring begins, shoshun 初春 しょしゅん
..... haru hajime 初春 春初（はるはじめ, mooshun 孟春（もうしゅん）
jooshun 上春（じょうしゅん）


"spring stands up", spring begins, risshun
立春 (りっしゅん)
... haru tatsu 春立つ（はるたつ）
spring comes, haru kuru 春来る（はるくる, haru saru 春さる（はるさる）

it becomes spring, haru ni naru 春になる（はるになる）

"Good Luck for Spring beginning" risshun daikichi
立春大吉（りっしゅんだいきち）

early spring, sooshun 早春 (そうしゅん)
spring is early, haru hayashi 春早し（はるはやし）
spring is light, haru awashi 春淡し（はるあわし）

spring is "thin", haru asashi 春浅し (はるあさし)
.....asaki haru 浅き春（あさきはる）, senshun浅春（せんしゅん）


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. . . . . SUMMER

summer begins, shoka 初夏 (しょか)
natsu no hajime 夏の始（なつのはじめ）
hatsu natsu 初夏（はつなつ）, natsu hajime 夏始（なつはじめ）
mooka 孟夏（もうか）
"head of summer", shuka 首夏（しゅか）


"summer stands up", summer begins, rikka 立夏 (りっか)
natsu tatsu 夏立つ（なつたつ）
"entering spring" , natsu ni iru 初夏 夏に入る（なつにいる）
summer of this morning, kesa no natsu
今朝の夏（けさのなつ）
summer comes, natsu kuru 夏来る（なつくる）


summer is "thin", natsu asashi 夏浅し (なつあさし)
asaki natsu 浅き夏（あさきなつ）


summer shows, natsu meku 夏めく (なつめく)
..... natsu kizasu 夏きざす（なつきざす）


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. . . . . AUTUMN

autumn begins, hatsu aki 初秋 (はつあき)
..... aki hajime 秋初め（あきはじめ）
..... shoshuu 初秋（しょしゅう）
"new autumn", shinshuu 新秋（しんしゅう）
"head of autumn", shushuu 首秋（しゅしゅう）

beginning of autumn, jooshuu 上秋（じょうしゅう）
mooshuu 孟秋（もうしゅう）
chooshuu 肇秋（ちょうしゅう）, ranshuu 蘭秋（らんしゅう）

early autumn, sooshuu 早秋（そうしゅう）
dooshuu 桐秋（とうしゅう）
bonshuu 盆秋（ぼんしゅう）


autumn is "thin", aki asashi 秋浅し（あきあさし）
early into autumn, akiguchi 秋口（あきぐち）


"autumn stands up", risshuu 立秋 (りっしゅう)
aki tatsu 秋立つ（あきたつ）

autumn of this morning, kesa no aki 今朝の朝（けさのあさ）
autumn of today, kyoo no aki 今日の秋（きょうのあき)

autumn is coming, aki kuru 秋来る（あきくる）
aki saru 秋さる（あきさる）

entering autumn, aki ni iru 秋に入る（あきにいる）


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. . . . . WINTER

beginning of winter, hatsu fuyu 初冬 (はつふゆ)
..... jootoo 上冬（じょうとう）, mootoo孟冬（もうとう）
winter is beginning, fuyu no hajime 冬の始（ふゆのはじめ）
..... shotoo 初冬（しょとう）


"winter stands up", rittoo 立冬 (りっとう)
..... fuyu tatsu 冬立つ（ふゆたつ）
entering winter, fuyu ni iru 冬に入る（ふゆにいる) the winter season begins
winter comes, fuyu kitaru 冬来る（ふゆきたる）
winter of this morning, kesa no fuyu 今朝の冬（けさのふゆ）


winter is "thin", fuyu asashi 冬浅し (ふゆあさし)
..... asaki fuyu 浅き冬（あさきふゆ）


fuyu meku 冬めく (ふゆめく) winter is getting "like winter"
just a bit colder than the "thin" winter days.



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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU


あやとりのエッフェル塔も冬に入る
ayatori no efferutoo mo fuyu ni iru

the Eiffel tower
(which looks like) an ayatori pattern
also begins the winter season

Akito Arima

ayatori, cat's cradle game of children

. WKD : Buildings and Haiku 　　


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Related words

***** Seasons ending


the HAIKU SEASONS

spring begins, February 4, risshun 立春
summer begins, May 6, rikka　立夏
autumn begins, August 8, risshuu　立秋
winter begins, November 7, rittoo　立冬

The Asian Lunar Calendar. Reference


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. . . . SPRING
the complete SAIJIKI

. . . . SUMMER
the complete SAIJIKI

. . . . AUTUMN
the complete SAIJIKI

. . . . WINTER
the complete SAIJIKI


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