the flower in tomorrow

Issa Original
さく花に長逗留の此世哉
saku hana ni nagatouryu no kono yo kana

David English
among blooming flowers---
a long stay
in this world

Sakuo Renku
明日は此花見ぬ人もあり
asuha kono hana minu hitomo ari

tomorrow there will be those who
can not see those flowers

the following

Issa Original
包丁で鰻よりつつ夕すずみ
houtyou de unagi yoritsutsu yuusuzumi

David English
with a kitchen knife
choosing eels…
a cool evening

Sakuo Renku
次の番とは夢にも思わず
tugi no bann towa yume nimo omowazu

the following watch
never thinking

all it's back people

Issa Original
名月や出家士諸商人
meigetu ya shukke samurai shoakindo

David’s English
harvest moon-gazing
priests,samurai,
merchants

Sakuo Renku
後姿はみんな人なり

all the sight of its backs
are people.

let's pay with us

Issa Original
夜ざくらや美人天から下るとも
yozakura ya bijin ten kara kudaru tomo

David’s English
night’s cherry blossoms
heavenly ladies
among us

Sakuo Renku
地に舞い降りて共に遊ばん

come down to the earth
let’s play together

fly on the dark sea

Issa Original
蝶とぶやこの世に望みのないように
chou tobu ya kono yo ni nozomi no nai youni

David’s English
butterfly flits
as if wanting nothing
In this world

Sakuo Renku
何処と知れず闇の海行く
izuko to sirezu yamino umi yuku

unknown to where
flying on the dark sea

this world of blossoms

Issa　Original
ことしからもうけ遊びぞ花の娑婆
kotosi kara mouke asobi zo hana no shaba

David’s English
from this year on
just carousing…
this world of blossom

Sakuo Renku
いざ籠に乗り友待つ里へ

Now ride on a stretcher
to the village friend waiting

draw the curtain

Issa Original
とく暮よことしのような悪どしは
toku kure yo kotoshi no yona akudoshi wa

David’s English
end quickly!
this year, you’ve been
an evil one

Sakuo Renku
早く幕引け地獄の芝居

swiftly draw the curtain
Drama of Hell

bird is innocent

Issa Original
鶯や泥足ぬぐふ梅の花
uguisu ya doroashi nuguu ume no hana

David’s English
nightingale wipes
his muddy feet…
plum blossoms

Sakuo Renku
家紋を知らぬ鳥のどか
with out knowing crest
the bird is innocent

All off horse

Issa Original
大名を馬からおろす桜哉
daimyou wo umakara orosu sakura kana

David’s English
a lord
forced off his horse…
cherry blossoms

Sakuo Renku
大御所眠る桜の社
oogoshyo nemuru sakura no yashiro

the first Shogun
sleeping in the cherry shrine

selfless duet

Issa Original
藪越の乞食笛よ鶯よ
yabukoe no kojiki fue yo uguisu yo

David’s English
wafting through trees
a beggar’s flute
a nightingale

Sakuo Renku
無欲同志の春のデュエット
selfless friend sing
spring duet

without string all fall

Issa Original
反古凧や隣は前田加賀守
hogo-dako ya tonari ha maeda kaga no kami

David’s English
a wastepaper kite
next to that of Maeda
Lord of Kaga!

Sakuo Renku
どちらも落ちる
命の糸よ
Both of them fall
without life strings

difficult to be right

Issa Original
人はいさ直な案山子もなかりけり
hitoha isa suguna kakasi mo nakari keri

David’s English
like people
an upright scarecrow
can’t be found

Sakuo Renku
我も正しく非ずなり
Me too
can not be right

children voices in Issa hut

13 Oct afternoon at Kashihabara
I visited Mrs. Nakamura, museum attendant in Issa Memorial Museum.
She explained many selections, the interesting are farm equipments, daily life tools, and clothes.
I found the bamboo carriage used in time of Issa. That reminds me
Issa’s handicap of walking.

14 Oct noon at Kashihabara
There were many school children in Issa’s hut, crying loudly.
I wish to let Issa hear their voices.

秋空に子供の声や一茶庵

In autumn sky
full of children’s voices…
Issa’s hut

10 disciples and apples

13 Oct noon at Naganuma
Being in the Civil hall, many villagers visit to Director , Mr. Hideo Kobayashi.
They all like haiku and are the fun of Issa.

There were 10 famous disciples in the village.

The village is full with apples. The grand houses are lined along Hottsukoku route. Those give us rich feeling.

It takes 2 or 3 hours on foot from Issa’s village. Riches of nature as well as of human feelings. I can understand Issa come to here so often.

弟子１０人迎える村や秋豊か

of the village
10 disciples welcomed
rich autumn

autumn sun set

On 12 Oct, afternoon at Takayama
Kubota Syunkou was the biggest land owner
in Edo era in Takayama.
His land had occupied the three fourth of
the village ground.

He was a good patron of Issa and the center of
Haiku activity in this area.

The neat villa stands as memory of Issa
in declining autumn sun set.

Relaxed on the stone

On 12th Oct, at Nakano.
Among the family of Fukurou-Ya Seizaemon , there were Mr. Baidou and his son Baijin who had helped Issa, supplying center of haiku meeting at this Nakano district.

The descendant of the family is Mr.Yamagishi , as President of business, well has maintained Issa’s documents and the room where
Issa and his students enjoyed the haiku party.

I found how Issa was relaxed with Fukurou-Ya family.
There is a stone in the pond that is shaped like bed on which Issa
was laying and looked sky, thinking Haiku.

The stone is named Zazen stone.

Nice hot spring ! in Yudanaka !

on 11th October ,at Yudanaka visited.
Mr. Yumoto is hot spring owner .
His ancestor had taken a good care for Issa in every way,
Especially Issa liked hot spring very much.
Yumoto family has owned hot spring that had made Issa easy.

After seeing Issa’s things, I had a nice talk with Mr Yumoto,
the decendant, who know well the history and told about relation
between Issa and mordrn Haiku-ist, Isensui and Santouka.

I took hot spring, thinking ISSA and hearing autumn first rain.

My trip to Issa's home area

The purpose of my trip to Issa’s home area is to get basic image
for haiga making featured on my Blogs .

It was done on 11th to 14th October.




Location.
Issa was born in kashiha-bara, northern district of Nagano Prefecture.
Now it takes 3 hours by train from Tokyo.
In Issa’s time, a week by foot from Edo (Tokyo called 130 years before)

Issa’s characteristic of teaching Haiku.
(1) His active area was limited to along big river.
In Edo, Tone river and Edo river.
In Nagano, Chikuma river.
(2) Main active area size
50×50 kilo meter square.
(3) Core sponsor and grouping students.
There were rich sponsors helping Issa who stayed in
and received money from them.
Many students gathered at the sponsor’s house and
enjoyed making haiku with Issa.
(4) Issa’s documents and memorial goods are gathered at the special
sponsors whose descendants have made galleries where
I visited at this time trip.

My reports are described by sponsor’s name with visited date and place.
(1) Mr. Yumoto hot spring owner , on 11th October ,at Yudanaka
(2) Mr. Fukuro-Ya medical doctor and merchant, on 12th Oct, at Nakano
(3) Mr. Kubota big land owner, on 12th Oct, at Takayama
(4) Naganuma- group 10 powerful citizen, on 13th at Naganuma
(5) Issa’s house and Memorial gallery, on 14th Oct, at Kashihabara.

Come down!

Issa original 1812
降りよ降りよ野火がついたぞ鳴く雲雀
ori yo ori yo nobi ga tsuita zo naku hibari

David’s English
come down! come down!brushfires have started...singing lark

Sakuo Renku
子は探す火は遠くとも
Ko ha sagasu hi ha touku tomo

Little birds looking for
even fires faraway

tired of traveling

Issa Original
1810,48 years old still in Edo.

手枕や小言いうても来る蛍
temakura ya kogoto iute mo kuru hotaru

David’s English
arm for my pillow--
though there's nagging
a firefly guest

Sakuo Renku
旅に疲れて発句浮かばず
Tabi ni tukare te hottsuku ukabazu

tired of traveling
feel short on haiku

the other's bride

Issa　Original　 1803 41 years old, living in Edo.
嫁もらう時分となるや梅の花
yome morau jibun to naru ya ume no hana

David's English
'tis the season
for taking a wife...
plum blossoms

Sakuo Renku 1
共に咲かせん我青春

bloom together
my Youth

sakuo Renku 2
指をくわえて人の嫁見る

Putting my finger in my mouth
watch other's bride

happy inventry

Issa Original
富士山も数え込みけり棚卸し　　一茶
fuji-san mo kazoe-komi keri tana oroshi

David’s English
even Mount Fujimakes the list...New Year's inventory

skauo Renku
一つ二つの不足 気にせず
Hitotu futatu no fusoku kini sezu

One or two shortages
Never mind

Your and my happiness !

Issa Original
物陰に笑う鼠や棚卸し
Mono kage ni warau nezumi ya
tana-oroshi

David’s English
hidden in shadows
a laughing mouse
New Year’s inventory

Sakuo Renku
貴殿の幸せ拙者の幸せ
Kiden no siawase　settsusya no siawase

Your happiness is
My happiness.

hit by thunder

Issa original
稲妻や狗ばかり無欲顔
Inazuma ya inu bakari muyoku kao

David’s English
Lightning flash---
Only the dog’s face
Is innocent

Sakuo Renku
欲に踊って雷に打たれる
yoku ni odottsute rai ni utareru

dancing with desire
hit by thunder

Gods suffer too

Issa original
苦のさばや神の御立も雨嵐
Ku no saba ya kami no o-tati mo ame arashi

David’s English
World suffering---
When the gods travel, too
A storm

Sakuo Renku
年に一度の神の大会
Nen ni itido no kami no taikai

Once in a year
All god’s Grand Party

Sakuo comment
It is held on the first of October at Izumo shrine
that is the Origin of all gods in Japan.

scramble for food

Issa Original
掃溜に鶴の下りけり和歌の浦
Hakidame ni tsuru no ori keri waka no ura

David’s English
cranes land
on the rubbish heap…
Waka-no-Ura

Sakuo Renku
近づき見れば餌の取り合い
tikaduki mire ba esa no toriai

look them up close
scrambling for food

stomackache

Issa Original
渋い所母が喰いけり山の柿
shibui tokoro ha haha ga kuikeri yama no kaki

David’s English
the sour parts
Mother eats…
mountain persimmon

Sakuo Renku
母のない子は腹痛起こす
haha no nai ko ha hara ita okosu

child with no Mother
surely suffer from
stomachache

warm up

Issa Original
木がらしや二十四文の遊女小屋
kogarashi ya ni juu shi mon no yuujyo koya

David’s English
cold wind---
a twenty four cent
Prostitute shack

Sakuo Renku
寄っていきなよ暖めるから
yottsute ikina yo attsutameru kara

come on baby
let's warm up

unconsciously picking up

Issa Original
旅人や野にさして行流れ苗　
tabi-bito ya no ni sashite iku nagare nae

David’s English
the traveler fixes
the farmer’s floating
rice stalks

Sakuo Renku
百姓忘れぬ旅の鳥かな　hyakushyou wasure nu tabi no tori kana

never forget being a farmer
traveling bird

going with Buddha

Issa Original
生残り生残りたる寒さ哉　ikinokori ikonokoritaru samusa kana

David’s English
surviving
and surviving…
how cold it is!

Sakuo Renku
凍る道行く仏と共に　kooru miti yuku hotoke to tomo ni
on the frozen way
going with Buddha

Every thing should be in two

Issa Original
春立や二軒つなぎの片住居　haru tatu ya niken tunagi no kata sumai

David’s English
spring begins---
two households
one house

Sakuo comment
After long term struggle on his father’s asset, Issa has got his half share
from his half brother’s family. Every assets has been divided two.
He lived next his brother.
New years has come, Issa murmured “ rice cake should be in two?”

Sakuo Renku
餅も二つに割って供える moti mo futatu ni watsute sonaeru
rice cake should be
split in two

My beloved woman

Issa Original
亡母や海見る度に見る度に　naki haha ya umi miru tabi ni miru tabi ni

David’s English
my dead mother---
every time I see the ocean,
every time…

Sakuo comment
Issa’s mother has died at his 3 years old. His family lived in mountain.
There is no strong relation between his mother and sea.
At this time he had a female student in Futtsu, seaside town. He loved her so much.
Bud she died after pleasant ku meeting with Issa. Her name is Kakyou.
I think Issa had double image, mother and Kakyou, in this haiku.

Sakuo Renku
思い出している海辺の人も　omoi dasi teru umibe no hito mo
remembering a lady too
lived on the seashore

keep it up Orphan !

Issa Original
痩蛙まけるな一茶是に有り　yasegaeru makeru na issa kore ni ari

David’s English
scrawny frog, fight on !
Issa
to the rescue

Sakuo Renku
孤児なれど吾も頑張る　minasigo nare do ware mo ganba ru
I am an orphan
but keep it up

Too sleep !

Issa Original
のら猫が仏のひざを枕哉　nora neko ga hotoke no hiza wo makura kana

David’s English
the stray cat
makes Buddha’s lap
its pillow

Sakuo Renku
我また眠らん春の日永を　ware mata nemuran haru no hinaga wo
me too sleeping
long day of spring

without a word

Issa Original
野仏の御鼻の先の氷柱哉
nobotoke no ohana no saki no tsurara

kanaDavid’s English
from the tip
of the field Buddha’s nose…
an icicle

Sakuo Renku
黙って立ちてお教え給う
damattsu te tattsu te osie tamau

standing without a word
enlightening us

rednecks !

Issa Original
かしましや江戸見た雁の帰り様
kashimashi ya edo mita kari no kaeri-sama

David’s English
clamorous
wild geese who saw Edo
returning home

Sakuo Renku
田舎者には負けられぬ
inaka-mono niwa make rare nu

rednecks like you
I can’t lose

Don't get in !

Issa original
古郷やよるも障るも茨の花
furusato ya yoru mo sawaru mo ibara no hana

David’s English
the closer I get
to my village , the more pain…
wild roses

Sakuo Renku
お入り召すな村の暮らしに
ohairi mesuna mura no kurasi ni

stop entering
into village life

Thanks for blood-sucking

916


Issa Original
有明や不二へ不二へと蚤のとぶ
ariake ya fuji he fuji he to nomi no tobu

David's English
dawn---
to Fuji to Fuji!
fleas jumping off

Sakuo Renku
吸血の無事お礼参りに
kyuketsu no buji oreimairi ni

safty blood-sucking
pilgrimage of thanks

Don't get a cold

915


Issa Original
人並みに畳のうえの月見哉
hito nami ni tatami no ue no tukimi kana

David’s English
like the others
on tatami mats…
moon gazing

Sakuo Renku
風邪を引くなと寝顔を照らす
kaze wo hikuna to negao wo terasu

don't get a cold
moon shines his face

eyes tired

Issa Original
秋の夜や旅の男の針仕事
aki no yo ya tabi no otoko no harishigoto

David's English
autumn evening
a traveling man busy
stitching

sakuo Renku
眼鏡無しでは仕事にならぬ
without glass
without stitching

Too cold

Issa Original
一人と書き留められる夜寒哉
iti nin to kaki tomerareru yosamu kana

David’s English
"A man “registers at the inn
cold night

sakuo Renku
Let's get a drink
and go to bed

reliance on Buddha

Issa original
月花や四十九年のむだ歩き
tuki hana ya shi jyu ku nen no muda aruki

David's English
moon! blossom!
forty-nine years walking
wasted

sakuo Renku
wish to make haiku
reliance on Buddha

All is the uncertainty

一茶　Original
松影に寝てくう六十よ州かな
matu kage ni
nete kuurokujyu
yosyuu kana

David's English
in pine-tree shade
sleeping,eating...
sixty provinces!

sakuo　Renku
一切無常南無阿弥陀仏

All is the uncertainty
devoting to Buddha

I am a hated man

一茶　Original
椋鳥の仲間に入るや夕時雨
mukudori nonakama ni iru ya yuusigure

David's English
jointing the "starlings"
a night of winter
rain

sakuo Renku
江戸の町でも嫌われ者よ
in Edo city too
hated man

Shout the name, Yatarou ~

一茶　Original
牛の子が　　ushi no ko ga
旅に立つ也 tabi ni tatu nari
秋の雨 aki no ame

David's English
the calf
being his journey...
autumn rain

sakuo Renku
親父は言葉も　oyaji ha kotoba mo
無かりけり nakari keri

Daddy couldn't say anything.

Why do you cry ?

Issa Original
夕暮とや　　yuugure to ya
雀のまま子 suzume no mamako
松に鳴 matsu ni naku

David's English
evening falls---
a stepchild sparrow
cries in the pine

sakuo Renku 7/7
訳も分からず　wake mo wakarasu
涙止まらず namida tomarazu

why do I cry
does'nt stop tear falling

Come here !

Issa Original
我と来て　　　　ware to ki te
あそぶや asobu ya
親のない雀 oya no nai suzume

David's English
come and play
with me...
orphan sparrow

sakuo Renku
ここは安心　　　 koko ha anshin
だあれも来ない da-remo konai

here is saftey
no body comes

4 common points of Issa visited towns

Issa Original
散るおちばとせいねんぶつ通りゆく
tiru　otiba tosei nenbutu touri yuku

sakuo’s English
falling leaves
gamblers and pilgrims
passing by

The haiku has been made at Shimofusa-cho near Tone-river.

Discovery of Common points of Issa visited Town.
1 big river side
2 once ferry boat station
3 connecting to main road
4 town office and temple exist

Today we have visited three Towns provided upper 4 elements
They are Shimofusa-chou
Tone-mati
Sakura- chou.

If you wish to find Issa’s visiting town, you should search above 4points in common.

on the lotus slider

Issa Original
とにかくも　　tonikaku mo
あなた任せの anata makase no
としの暮 toshi no kure

David's English
come what may
trusting in the Buddha...
the year ends

sakuo Renku 7 / 7
蓮の台で　　　 hasu no utena de
時空越え行く jikuu koeyuku

on the lotus slider
going over time and space

at the front of Buddha

Issa Original
花桶に　 hana oke ni
蝶も聞くかよ tyou mo kiku ka yo
一大事 itidai ji

David’s English
on the flower pot
does the butterfly also hear
Buddha’s promise ?

sakuo Renku
生きてる事は　ikiteru koto ha
皆同じ mina onaji

All are living
all are equal