February 1688, Genroku 1 Mount Yamato Katsuragi, Nara Prefecture Basho, Age 44 In May, on Mount Katsuragi, cherry trees and azalea bushes blossom, pink and red to crimson hues to grace the landscape. The face of God is graced with grace and flowers 猶みたし 花に明行 神の顔 nao mitashi hana ni ake yuku kami no kao Matsuo Basho, Notes from My Backpack, Spring 1688 nao (grace) mitashi (fulfill or gratify) hana (flower) ni ake (bright, clear) yuku (likeness) kami no kao (kami, a Shinto God, kao face) 1688 In Japan, it was the beginning of the reign of Emperor Higashiyama. Japan would not have heard the news ..read more

Along the Oku no Hosomichi Spring 1689 Here it is half way through May and I find myself wondering where Matsuo Basho is on his journey into Japan’s northern interior (Oku no Hosomichi). Matsuo Basho, no doubt, reckoned by lunar months which makes it difficult pinpoint a place with a specific date. Today, there is a gentle mist, white clouds, and still the birds are singing. The leaves on the trees are green, not the bright green of early spring, but the full rich green of summer. Yet, I go back to Mt. Nikko, the fifth stop on the journey known as Oku no Hosomichi. Mt. Nikko (日光), which means ..read more

Summer, Genroku, 4th year. May 5, 1691, age 47, Maybe, Otsu, Japan Recalling his mother, on Children’s Day? Seeing a woman wrap sticky rice dumplings in a bamboo leaf and tie it with a string, tucking her hair behind her ear. Did Basho recall his mother? Holding a dumpling in one hand, she tucks her hair behind her ear 粽ゆう 片手にはさむ 額髪 Chimaki yuu katate ni hasamu hitaigami Matsuo Basho, May 5, 1691 [In Japan, Children’s Day is celebrated on May the 5th. That is close to the celebration of Mother’s Day in America on the second Sunday in May. ] Summer of 1691 By the summer of 1691, Basho had left ..read more

From Nozarashi Kikō, At a Teahouse on Lake Biwa, Jōkyō year 2, Spring, 1685 Basho age 41 At Lake Biwa, at a teahouse, a woman in the shadow of the azalea tearing up codfish, for whom? In the shade of an azalea a woman tearing up codfish 躑躅生けてその陰に干鱈 割く女 tsutsuji ikete sono kage ni hidara saku onna Matsuo Basho, Nozarashi Kikō, Spring, 1685 [tsutsuji (azalea) ikete (tearing up, cutting up, arranging) sono (that) kage (shade) ni (in, “sono kage” in the shade) hidara (dried codfish) saku (tear up) onna (woman)] The Journey “My mother died.” Basho no doubt had this thought on his mind when he left ..read more

The Trip Matsuo Basho reveals to his disciple Kyori that he and his neighbor Kawai Sora are planning a trip. The trip that would make Basho famous. How wonderful! This year, this Spring As I journey under the sky (Sora) I おもしろや ことしの春も 旅のそら omoshiro ya / kotoshi no Itam mo / tabi no sora Matsuo Basho, Spring 1689 The trip was to become Oku no Hosomichi, a nine month journey into Japan’s Northern Interior. The notes and haiku Basho wrote along the way would not be published until eight years after Basho’ death in 1694. It would in time make his name immortal. According to a disciple of Basho, M ..read more

When the Dutch “Kapitan” comes to greet the Shogun in Edo in Spring. 甲比丹も. つくばはせけり . 君が春 kapitan mo . tsu kuba wasekeri . kimi ga haru    the Red (Dutch) Captain, when he comes, cowering before his Master each Spring Tosei (Matsuo Basho), Spring 1678 Wisely Each Spring, the Dutch made a long winding procession to pay homage to the Shogun in Edo. The procession began in Nagasaki, the only port open to Dutch trade. The first known procession was in 1627. At the front, in a carriage, carried on the shoulders of six men, was Pieter Nuyts, the designated Dutch councilor of the Indie ..read more

Cherry Blossoms in Edo, Spring, 1681-2 Basho, age 37-38 In 17th century Edo, women’s fashions are changing. Drunk on blossoms a woman in a haori, pointing with a sword 花に酔えり 羽織着て刀 さす女 Hana ni yoeri haori kite katana sasu onna Hana ni ee ri haori kite katana sasu onna Matsuo Basho, Edo, 1681-2 Translation. Hana (flower, here meaning a cherry blossom) ni (particle to indicate cause) yoeri (to become drunk) haori (a short jacket, women wear over a kimono) kite (wearing) katana (sword) sasu (pointing, stabbing) onna (woman) Cross-Dressing Japan was unified under the Tokugawa clan. War was over. P ..read more

1st year of Genroku, Spring of 1688, Basho is 45 years old, Mt. Yamato Katsuragi Always seeing within a flower at the break of dawn — the face of God Matsuo Basho, Oi no kibumi, Spring 1685 From the travelogue, Oi no kobumi, a trip from Edo to Iga-Ueno (Basho’s hometown), then to Mt. Yamato Kasuragi in Nara prefecture. In Spring, Bashō came to Mt. Katsuragi to see the cherry blossoms. Near the Shinto shrine for the local god, Hitokotonushi, he wrote this haiku: 猶みたし 花に明行 神の顔 nao mitashi | always seeing within      hana ni ake yuku | a flower at the break of dawn              kami no kao | th ..read more

Likely composed in Kyoto, 7th year of the Kanbun era, 1667, age 24. Perhaps, it was windy. An East wind, ah swaying in every direction — willowy hair あち東風や . 面々さばき . 柳 髪 Achi kochi ya . menmen sabaki . yanagi gami Matsuo Basho, Kyoto, 1667, age 24 Meanwhile Here in middle America, last week was unseasonably warm. The weatherman celebrated March first as the first day of Spring. It was a beautiful day for walk in the park with the dogs off leash. A gentle breeze stirring thoughts of Spring. For the young poet (not yet known as Basho), three years had passed since the death of Todo Yoshitada, h ..read more

Kanbun year 4, 1664 Matsuo Kinsaku (Basho), age 20 or 21, Kyoto in Spring? Fading beauty, she blossoms in old age — her memories 姥桜 咲くや 老後の 思い出 uba-sakura saku ya rougo no omoide ubazakura saku ya rougo no omoi-ide Matsuo Kinsaku (Basho), Spring 1664, age 20 or 21 Notes on Translation ubazakura (ubasakura) is a particular kind of cherry tree. In Spring, its blossoms appear on leafless branches. It is a metaphor for a woman who is old but still attractive. uba-sakura (“a faded beauty,” a combination of nursing mother and sakura, cherry blossom) saku (to bloom) ya (emphasis) rougo (old age) no ..read more