Here's this month's poetry contribution from Keiji Minato: 枇杷の咲く路地抜け右へ折れましてまっすぐ行けば六波羅蜜寺 坪内稔典 Biwa no saku Roji nuke Migi e oremashite Massugu ikeba Rokuhara-mita-ji --- TSUBOUCHI Toshinori Passing through an alley where you see loquat blossoms and taking a right turn and then going straight gets you to Rokuhara-mita Temple 『京都うた紀行』 (Kyoto Uta Kiko ~ … [Read more...] about “Kyoto Uta Kiko” (Song Travels in Kyoto) — Rokuhara-mita Temple
Keiji Minato
“TÔTEKIKO” by Javant Biarujia
Keiji Minato writes... I wrote the article below before the big disaster hit the northern part of Japan. I guess you might find it strange to read about something very small with a tremendous incident on the background, but I will post it anyway. It must be very important for us to calm ourselves before rushing toward unnecessary … [Read more...] about “TÔTEKIKO” by Javant Biarujia
Three Poets at Minase
Here is this month's poetry column from poet and translator Keiji Minato... The Minase Sangin Hyakuin by Sogi, Shohaku, and Socho 雪ながら山もとかすむ夕かな 宗祇 Yuki nagara yama-moto kasumu yube kana As it snows the base of the mountain is misty this evening (Sogi) 行く水とほく梅にほふ里 肖柏 Yuku mizu toku ume niou sato Far in the way the water goes a plum-blossom-smelling hamlet … [Read more...] about Three Poets at Minase
Ryojin-hisho, Popular Songs in the Twelfth Century
Here’s this month’s poetry column from our friend Keiji Minato… Ryojin-hisho (『梁塵秘抄』), compiled by Go-Shirakawa-Joko (後白河上皇; the ex-emperor Go-Shirakawa) in the late 12th century, is an anthology of popular songs called “Imayo Kayo” (今様歌謡; directly translated it means “contemporary-style popular songs”) at that time. They were mainly performed by itinerant female dancers and … [Read more...] about Ryojin-hisho, Popular Songs in the Twelfth Century
Two Poems by Amano Tadashi
Here's this month's poetry column from our friend Keiji Minato... Kobo-san (弘法さん) is the popular name of Toji Kobo-ichi (東寺弘法市; Toji Kobo Market), the monthly fair that takes place at Toji Temple. On the 21st every month, hundreds of stalls occupy its huge precincts and alleys all around and sell a wide variety of goods from food and drink through accessories and … [Read more...] about Two Poems by Amano Tadashi
