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The Beautiful Village of Yoshino
The town of Yoshino (yoshino-chō, 吉野町), near the old capitol of Nara, was a popular spot in ancient times and was often the subject of poetry in the Hyakunin Isshu anthology, for example poem 31 and poem 94. Last spring, the Yasaka Taxi company in Japan posted a terrific photo of Yoshino (original link on…
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Bozu Mekuri: Karuta for Beginners
Wow, it’s been a while. Recently, while playing with my wife and kids a game of karuta with our hyakunin isshu set, I learned about a simple, introductory way to enjoy the game without spending a lot of time learning the poems or mastering the rules of the competition. This simple game is called bōzu-mekuri…
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Mount Ogura
Hi Folks, Although I’ve finished all the poems in the Hyakunin Isshu, I wanted to share this cool photo I found on Twitter: This is Mount Ogura (小倉山) also called Arashiyama (嵐山) near the city of Kyoto. The place name “Ogura” is where the Hyakunin Isshu gets its full-name: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. At that time,…
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Burning with Longing: Poem 97
At last, faithful readers, we come to the final poem of the Hyakunin Isshu, composed by the anthology’s compiler himself! Japanese Romanization Translation こぬ人を Konu hito wo For the man who doesn’t come まつほの浦の Matsuo no ura no I wait at the Bay of Matsuo— 夕なぎに Yunagi ni in the evening calm やくやもしほの Yaku ya…
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The Scattering Years of My Life: Poem 96
Something we all have to face in the end: Japanese Romanization Translation 花さそふ Hana sasou It entices the flowers— あらしの庭の Arashi no niwa no the storm—but through the garden’s white, 雪ならで Yuki nara de it is not snow, ふりゆくものは Furi yuku mono wa and what it is that’s scattering わが身なりけり Wa ga mi narikeri are,…
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The Fulling of Cloth: Poem 94
Although not a well-known poem in the Hyakunin Isshu, I rather like this one for some reason: Japanese Romanization Translation みよし野の Miyoshino Fair Yoshino, 山の秋風 Yama no aki-kaze the autumn wind in its mountains さよふけて Sayo fukete deepens the night and ふるさとさむく Furusato samuku in the former capitol, cold 衣うつなり Koromo utsu nari I hear…
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Even At Low Tide: Poem 92
Another poem dedicated to those who were lonely for Valentine’s Day recently: Japanese Romanization Translation わが袖は Wa ga sode wa My sleeves are like 潮干に見えぬ Shiohi ni mienu the rock in the offing that 沖の石の Oki no ishi no can’t be seen even at low tide, 人こそしらね Hito koso shirane unknown to anyone, but かはくまもなし…
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A Cold Mat: Poem 91
A fitting poem for winter and those who somehow missed out on Valentine’s Day recently: Japanese Romanization Translation きりぎりす Kirigirisu When the crickets 鳴くや霜夜の Naku ya shimoyo no cry in the frosty night, さむしろに Sa mushiro ni on the cold reed-mat, 衣かたしき Koromo katashiki spreading out my robe just for one, ひとりかも寝む Hitori kamo nen…
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Fisherwomen’s Sleeves: Poem Number 90
This poem is a clever variation on the “sleeves wet with tears” poems we often see in the Hyakunin Isshu: Japanese Romanization Translation 見せばやな Misebaya na How I’d like to show him! 雄島のあまの Ojima no ama no The sleeves of the fishermen 袖だにも Sode dani mo of Male Island ぬれにぞぬれし Nure ni zo nureshi when…
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Short As A Reed: Poem Number 88
If you like word-play, you’ll enjoy this poem quite a bit: Japanese Romanization Translation 難波江の Naniwa-e no Due to that single night 芦のかりねの Ashi no karine no of fitful sleep, short as a reed’s joint cut at the root 一夜ゆへ Hitoyo yue from Naniwa Bay, 身をつくしてや Mi wo tsukushite ya am I to exhaust myself,…
The Hyakunin Isshu
A Hundreds Poems by a Hundred Poets
The Hyakunin Isshu 