Category: Japan
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Disheleved: Poem Number 80
A clever morning-after love poem that I felt was fun to share: Japanese Romanization Translation 長からむ Nagakaran I do not even know 心もしらず Kokoro mo shirazu how long your feelings will last. 黒髪の Kurokami no My long black hair みだれてけさは Midarete kesa wa is all disheveled and, this morning, 物をこそ思へ Mono wo koso omoe my…
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Lamentations: Poem Number 86
Another Autumn moon poem, but with an interesting twist: Japanese Romanization Translation なげけとて Nageke tote “Lament!” does it say? 月やは物を Tsuki ya wa mono wo Is it the moon that makes me 思はする Omowasuru dwell on things? —No, and yet, かこちがほなる Kakochi gao naru look at the tears flowing down わがなみだかな Waga nami dakana my…
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Nostalgia: Poem Number 84
This is kind of a cool, unusual poem to find in the Hyakunin Isshu, but something we can all appreciate: Japanese Romanization Translation ながらへば Nagaraeba If I live on longer, またこの頃や Mata kono koro ya shall I again, I wonder, しのばれむ Shinobaren yearn for these days? 憂しと見し世ぞ Ushi to mishi yo zo The world that…
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Where to Purchase Hyakunin Isshu “Karuta” Cards
Edit: Revamped this page in January 2023 with a lot more information, updated Google Maps links and so on. One of the best ways to appreciate and celebrate the Hyakunin Isshu anthology (besides reading and reciting the poetry) is to play the traditional card game called karuta. I’ve written about it here, here and here…
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Lean on Me: Poem Number 75
This is another autumn-themed poem, but with an interesting story behind it: Japanese Romanization Translation 契りをきし Chigiri okishi Depending with my life させもが露を Sasemo ga tsuyu wo on promises that fell thick 命にて Inochi ni te as dew on sasemo plants— あはれことしの Aware kotoshi no alas! the autumn of this year too 秋もいぬめり Aki mo…
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The Autumn Wind: Poem Number 71
Another great poem for Autumn: Japanese Romanization Translation 夕されば Yu sureba As evening falls, 門田の稲葉 Kadota no inaba through the rice-plants before the gate, おとづれて Otozurete it comes visiting, and rustling あしのまろやに Ashi no maroya ni on the reeds of the simple hut— 秋風ぞふく Akikaze zo fuku the autumn wind does blow! Translation by Dr…
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Autumn is here! Poem Number 69
My favorite season, Autumn, is fast approaching so I thought this would be a good poem: Japanese Romanization Translation あらし吹く Arashi fuku It’s the autumn leaves 三室の山の Mimuro no yama no of the hills of Mimuro, もみぢ葉は Momijiba wa where the tempests blow, 龍田の川の Tatsuta no kawa no that are the woven brocade floating にしきなりけり…
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Long Summer: Poem Number 98
As Summer starts to wind down, I thought this would be a good poem. In fact, it’s one of the few about Summer in the Hyakunin Isshu: Japanese Romanization Translation 風そよぐ Kaze soyogu In the evening ならの小川の Nara no ogawa no when the wind rustles the oaks 夕ぐれは Yugure wa at Nara-no-Ogawa, みそぎぞ夏の Misogi zo…
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Backfired: Poem Number 74
Even the Hyakunin Isshu has its comedic moments: Japanese Romanization Translation うかりける Ukarikeru “Make that heartless 人をはつせの Hito wo hatsuse no woman, O mountain storm 山おろしよ Yama oroshiyo of Hatsuse Temple— はげしかれとは Hageshikareto wa crueller still!”—this is not 祈らぬものを Inoranu mono wo what I prayed for, and yet… Translation by Dr Joshua Mostow The author…
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Catch Me If You Can: Poem Number 72
This is a more light-hearted poem in contrast to the previous one: Japanese Romanization Translation 音にきく Oto ni kiku Known far and wide, 高師の浜の Takashi no hama no the unpredictable waves あだ浪は Adanami wa of Takashi’s beach— かけじや袖の Kakeji ya sode no I will not let them catch me— ぬれもこそすれ Nure mo koso sure For…
The Hyakunin Isshu 