On my way home from Kitano Tenmangu Shrine the other day, I stopped by the Imperial Palace Park to enjoy the plum blossom. The trees at Kitano Tenmangu are probably more famous, but the shrine grounds were also a lot more crowded. Though each tree in the park had its admirers, there was really only a small scattering of people around, and so I could enjoy the blooms in a more … [Read more...]
Hiking the Rice Buyers’ Way
Two of the most rewarding activities I have been involved in during my time in Kyoto, are the events organized by the Hailstone Haiku Circle, and the conservation activities of People Together for Mt. Ogura (PTO). Stephen Gill is a primary organizer of both organizations, and so some of their activites tend to merge. So it was that on October 26th Mewby and I took part in a … [Read more...]
Honke Owariya with Sean Lotman
On Sunday Mewby and I had the pleasure of lunch with writer/photographer Sean Lotman. Sean's wife manages the Honke Owariya soba noodle business, a family company which is pretty famous in Kyoto. The business actually dates from 1465, though they "only" started making noodles Sean told me about 300 or 400 years ago, as they were originally a confectionary business. They still … [Read more...]
Blue Sky – An Excerpt from Deep Kyoto Walks
Today I am posting another in a series of short excerpts from our ebook Deep Kyoto: Walks. In Blue Sky, the poet Stephen Henry Gill acts as a guide to the Saga & Arashiyama area for a young visitor who has come to learn more about the conservation NPO, People Together for Mt. Ogura. Stephen whimsically names his visitor Blue Sky, because that was the first thing he saw that … [Read more...]
ECHOES: Painting & Poetry Exhibition at KICH – February 25 ~ March 2
ECHOES is an upcoming poetry and art exhibition organized by the Hailstone Haiku Circle, and featuring the conservation efforts of PTO (People Together for Mt. Ogura). Click on the flyer below for details! H a i g a c o l l a b o r a t i o n Hailstone Haiku Circle is an international group founded in 2000 by Stephen Gill and centred on Kyoto. Its main activity is to … [Read more...]
Meltdown – An Anthology of Haiku, Z – A
MELTDOWN メルトダウン (2013) An Anthology of Haiku, Z to A. ISBN: 978-4-9900822-5-3 Edited by Stephen Henry Gill Includes almost 500 haiku and a short 4-part seasonal renku cycle over 228 pages. Cover by Richard Steiner. Price:￥1,500; airmail $20, incl. p&p Dimensions: 19 x 13 cm. Covers feature a tactile matt paper finish. How to order: details are at the Hailstone Haiku … [Read more...]
English Haiku Poems Class
Hailstone Haiku Circle "Hibikiai Forum" One of the most enjoyable activities I regularly take part in, is the monthly haiku class at Friend Peace House. I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about poetic forms like haiku, senryu, and tanka in English. The class is usually divided into two main parts. After sharing an introductory poem of his … [Read more...]
Hiking & Haiku on the Uminobe-no-Michi Trail
For the last 3 years or so I have been joining the Hailstone Haiku Circle on their annual autumn hike. Always good outings, in previous years we have gone further afield to Mount Daisen in Tottori, and Tateyama in Toyama, but this year's hike was closer to home： along the Lakeside Way (湖ノ辺の道 Uminobe-no-michi), in Northern Shiga. These are haiku composition hikes, so we take … [Read more...]
Kyoto: the forest within the gate
Here is a new book project from the team behind Kyoto Journal. The ancient capital of Japan in images and writings Resting on the earth who needs satori or faith? Embrace what holds you! … [Read more...]
Genjuan International Haibun Contest 2013
幻住庵 Genjuan Haibun Contest 2013 Genjuan is the name of the cottage near Lake Biwa where, in 1690, Basho lived for a while and wrote one of his most famous haibun. It was probably the happiest period of his life. This is the second year of the contest crowned by the name of Basho’s cottage, and its purpose remains to provide a common arena for haibun writers of the world. … [Read more...]
A Ginko, at Seishu Netsuke-kan
Here’s this month’s poetry post from our friend, poet and translator, Keiji Minato. Have you tried a ginko (吟行)? A ginko is a group excursion to make haiku or senryu: you visit a landmark, a museum exhibition, or any place of interest and write poems based on the experience. Usually, a kukai (句会; a haiku or senryu meeting) takes place afterwards, and you can share your … [Read more...]
The Kikakuza Haibun Contest Anthology
Kikakuza Haibun Contest ~ Decorated Works 2009~2011 Compiled by Nobuyuki Yuasa & Stephen Henry Gill Lovely little collection this. I purchased a copy last week at the Hibikiai Forum English Haiku Poems seminar, and as it rained solidly all the next day, I spent a very nice, lazy afternoon reading through it with the rainfall as perfect background music. Haibun (俳文) … [Read more...]
Chidzuko Ueno’s Book of Haiku, Eldorado
Here's this month's Kyoto poetry post by our friend Keiji Minato! Haiku is a well-established poetic form in Japan. Japanese newspapers call for haiku submissions, and a large number of amateur poets send them their works to be chosen for publication by famous masters. There are some TV programs specializing in haiku, for which big events are often held and big … [Read more...]
Irish Haiku!
On Thursday night I attended the Hailstone Haiku Circle's English Haiku class for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it! About 12 people were present including the British poet/artist Stephen Gill and Sean O'Connor an Irish poet/musician. The first part of the class was taken up with what Stephen called the 添削コーナー ("correction corner"). Here haiku that have been submitted … [Read more...]
