Category Archives: Poetry

It’s That Time Again: Cherry Blossoms!

Posted on April 5, 2012 by

I don’t know why, but I love spring. But of course, one of the most memorable things about Spring are blossoms! In Japanese these are known as sakura (桜) and in Korean I think1 these are known as peotggot (벚꽃), … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Korea, Poetry, Seattle, Travel | 5 Comments

Spring Has Come

Posted on February 26, 2012 by

I always enjoy this time of year. The weather finally starts to warm up and there’s much to look forward to. Recently I saw on NHK news (via cable TV) that plum blossoms, or ume (梅), have started blooming in … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Japan, Poetry, Travel | Tagged | 4 Comments

The Joys and Pains of Parenting

Posted on November 3, 2011 by

While reading a certain article by the Asahi Shinbun, I was struck by a wonderful poem by poet Ōno Nobuo (大野誠夫, 1914-1984), which the newspaper translated as: I watch over my young child sleeping with a ribbon Until I get … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Japanese, Language, Poetry | 1 Comment

Me, Summarized

Posted on September 1, 2011 by

I took this photo recently, while taking a day off from work. I spent the day around the University of Washington, my alma mater, enjoying 10 years worth of nostalgia before eating lunch at my favorite burger restaurant next to … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Poetry | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Arashi and the Hyakunin Isshu

Posted on May 30, 2011 by

Lately, I’ve been enjoying a certain Arashi single called “Dear Snow” quite a bit. You can see a video for it here among other places on the Intertubes. It’s quite a good song. My wife said it was used as … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Japanese, JLPT, Language, Music, Poetry | Leave a comment

A Long Spring Nap

Posted on May 6, 2011 by

A couple years ago I posted about this famous Chinese poem from the Tang Dynasty. This was composed by Mèng Hàorán, who in Japanese is known as Mōkōnen (孟浩然). It is also included in the very famous Chinese collection: the … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Japan, Literature, Poetry | 4 Comments

A Moonlit Night

Posted on December 26, 2010 by

On a recent evening, while taking out the trash, I took this photo of the moon. Being a cold Autumn evening in early December, I found the moon captivating: Which seemed to fit a certain poem from the Hyakunin Isshu … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Poetry | 3 Comments

Snowfall

Posted on December 19, 2010 by

After a recent snowfall here in Seattle, I thought this poem from the Hyakunin Isshu seemed fitting. 朝ぼらけ asaborake 有明の月と ariake no tsuki to みるまでに miru made ni 吉野の里に yoshino no sato ni ふれる白雪 fureru shirayuki Surely the morning moon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Photography, Poetry | 4 Comments

Getting Old

Posted on November 28, 2010 by

[96] 花さそふ Hana sasou あらしの庭の Arashi no niwa no 雪ならで Yuki narade ふりゆくものは furiyuku mono wa わが身なりけり waga mi nari keri THIS snow is not from blossoms white Wind-scattered, here and there, That whiten all my garden paths And leave … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Poetry | 3 Comments

Ah, lovely autumn

Posted on November 14, 2010 by

Autumn is always my favorite season for its beautiful colors among other things: [17] 千早ぶる Chihayaburu 神代もきかず Kamiyo mo kikazu 龍田川 Tatsuta-gawa からくれないに Kara kurenai ni 水くくるとは Mizu kukuru to wa Which the good folks at the University of Virginia … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Poetry | 2 Comments