HAIKU April 2023

弥次郎兵衛喜多八帰る桜かな 　　　　　　子規

yajirobē

kitahachi kaeru

sakura kana

Yajirobē and Kitahachi

returning home

cherry blossoms

Season word: cherry blossom (桜sakura), spring

Composed by Masaoka Shiki in 1896, at age 29. Born

in Matsuyama, Shiki is credited with making haiku a

respected literary form.

*Two men, Yajirobē and Kitahachi are the main characters in a comic series of the Edo Era (1603-1867), Shank’s Mare. Together they travel all over Japan visiting famous sights. The series became very popular and stimulated a travel boom.

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Trans.: The Shiki Museum English Volunteers