Haiku 2002

Now, it is the best season in Japan. Leaves are showing their best colors. Tofukuji temple is very famous for its maple trees. A lot of people come to see the maple trees aflame with red leaves. Imagumano-kannon is located near Tofukuji Temple. There also the leaves turned red and yellow. Magnificent colors! We enjoyed walking around the temples.
We have tens of Kiyomizu-yaki pottery makers between Tofukuji temple and Imagumano-Kannon (in Sen-nyu-ji temple). Those pottery makers open pottery markets for ordinary people at special bargain prices once a year. The last Sunday was the Market day. We enjoyed shopping potteries in the warm autumn sun, Indian summer.
Those temples and the potteries are within 15 minute-walk from my house. We are happy to live here surrounded by beautiful autumn tints.

Nakai Hirokazu

Today we went to Mt. Kouno, located near Kisaichi in Katano city. We started from Kisaichi Station of Keihan Katano Line. The route was well maintained and there were lots of good campsites. On the way to Mt.Katano we found cosmos fields. They were in full bloom. Bunches of small chrysanthemums, ginkgo nuts, sweet potatoes, and green soybeans are sold in each place on the hiking route with no stall-keepers there. It was one of the hiking pleasures to buy those cheap products in a road stall. The products told us that it's a harvest time. We really felt Autumn is the best hiking season. Colors of mountains and smells of green-turned-into-brown leaves moved our minds and hearts.

Nakai Hirokazu

秋桜に　笑顔のポーズ　妻いとし　

In a cosmos field
A wife poses for her husband's camera
A lovely smile

葉しぐれの　拾い集めて　色とりどり　

I gather up leaves
falling like a scattered shower,
Many colors in my hand

銀杏の　ハイキング路に　無人売り　

Packets of ginkgo nuts
Are sold in a hiking route
With no stall-keepers there

Today we went to Nashinoki Shrine which is famous for its bush clovers garden. A lot of bush clovers are bloom and there hang a lot of paper strips on which a haiku is written.

Nakai Hirokazu

　萩揺れて　寄り添い歩く　五十路かな

Side by side
A couple in fiftyﾕs walk along
Bush clovers sway

　過ぎ去りし　想いめぐるや　萩の雨

　　Time passed away
　　Memories come over to my mind,
　　It rains on bush clovers

Nakai Tokiko
白萩の　薄き灯りに　黄蝶飛ぶ

　
Yellow butterflies float

In dim lights of the blossoms

of white bush clovers

What we thought of when we planned to go to Aomori was to hike in Hakkoda and to view Nebuta festival. Aomori literally means blue-green forests. Actually Aomori in summer was full of green colors and energies. I felt a big vigorous stream of life, spirits floating down from ancient time, Jomon period, and thought that the living energies are among people in Aomori, Aomorians.

We left Kyoto on Sunday morning 6:15 in the morning and took an airplane to Aomori. The weather forecast on TV before we left our house said it would be raining hard in the afternoon. So I was thinking what to do when we have reached Aomori Air Port. Do we need to cancel mountain climbing or exchange Oirase gorge, a mountain stream hiking with Hakkoda hiking? We were worried about it.

A miracle happened. It was fine when we reached Aomori Air port. Soon after we got off the plane we took a taxi to Hakkoda Ropeway Cable Station. A gondora was big enough for a hundred passengers and it crossed the vast sea of trees in about 10 minutes.

We bought onigiri (rice balls) and others for lunch and started to walk to the top of mountains, Hakkoda-odake(1584m). First, it was an easy course and we enjoyed marsh in Tamoyachi and then a little steep slope route was ahead of us. It was tough for us to reach Goshikiiwa, one of the tops in Hakkoda mountains. We ate lunch there and went to Akakura-dake. There we found a mass of snow left on the side of the mountains. It was a beautiful route walking along the ridge. Then we hiked up to Odake, which is the highest top in Hakkoda mountains. When it was fine we could enjoy panoramic view, but unfortunately it was a little cloudy, so we couldn't see Mt Iwaki. We went down to Sukayu hot spring through Kami-kenashi and Shimo-kenashi marshes.

There stood big old houses we found when we reached Sukayu hot spring. They were old inns for people who enjoy bathing hot spring. I tried bathing large Sennin Buro bath. The hot water was actually a little acid.
We stayed at Hakkoda Hotel, a nice resort hotel on the first day. Hotel customers are out for viewing Nebuta festivals from 6:00 to 9:00. So we enjoyed bathing alone in a big bath at the hotel.

Next day we went walking along Oirase gorge, 9 km from Ishigedo to Nenokuchi.
Many people were around Ishigedo. Large numbers of busses parked there and visitors were enjoying seeing the stream nearby. We went on to Nenokuchi. The stream was beautiful and all were surrounded by greens, I mean among greens. I myself felt as if I were a part of the greens.

We took a bus to return to Aomori City after staying around Lake Towada for about 20 minutes. It rained hard when we reached Aomori City. We thought Nebuta festival would be canceld because of the heavy rain.

Again another miracle happened. It stopped raining soon after and the festival was done. It was the first time to see huge Nebuta floats just before me. They were giant and muti-colored lights and shadows. Terrific!! "Seeing is believing" people say. It was right. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Nebuta floats and the people called "Haneto" in raptures at leaping and dancing, and the rolls of bass drums. It was a burst of living joy. "Rassera, rassera..!" We never forget the beauty of Aomori Nebuta Festival.

The last day, we enjoyed buying fresh fish and seafood at Fresh Market. Then we went to Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum. Then ASPAM. We went up to the 13th floor and from the obsevation lounge we enjoyed a 360-degree-view of Aomori City, Mutsu Bay. But it was cloudy and we could not see so far to Hakkoda mountains and Mt. Iwaki or so.

Lastly we went to Sannnai Maruyama Historical Site, where a large community of Jomon people lived in ancient time. The place was huge and buildings were large. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Then we came back home at 9:50. It was a very enjoyable travel.

登喜子　　(Tokiko)

汗拭きて　行く高原を　日が照らし

Wiping the sweat
I hike on the mountain heights
The sun shines

渓流は　千の顔あり　飽くこと無し

Oirase gorge
Has thousand faces in it
Never bored

赤とんぼ　夫に仕え行く　川辺

Red dragonflies
Follow flying after my husband
Along the stream trail

揺さぶるは　はねと囃子と　ねぶたなり

Haneto dancers
Festival music of Nebuta, and floats
A joy rises up from inside

弘一　　　(Hirokazu)

命這う　尾根の松枝に　赤とんぼ　

Pine tree branches
Trail their life along the ridge,
Red dragonflies are on them

大鼓　響く命や　ねぶたの夜

Big Bass drums
Roll people's living joy
On Nebuta evening

奥入瀬は　みどりの息吹　風となり

On Oirase gorge
Breathing of the greens
Turns into breeze

Today is Tanabata day. Tanabata is a festival in celebration of love. Legend has it that two stars, known as the Cowherd (Altair) and the Weaver (Vega) were lovers separated by the Milky way and able to meet but once a year, on July 7, if it did not rain.
My wife and I went to Choumei-ji (Long life Temple) today, which is located at Omi-hachiman in Shiga. The temple has a tough access. We need to hike up 808 stone stairs to reach the temple. The strong or people in good health can go up to the goal. So people who reach the goal can live long.
Stone stairs have different height in each step and rather high. My wife was very vigorous and she went up lightly leaving me behind. I thought she would live longer than I.
On the way back to the station, we dropped at a very famous Japanese confection store, Watayo. The store had a very sad incident. A fire broke out two years ago and the storekeeper's wife and children died. The storekeeper recovered himself from the sad incident and he reopened the store recently. Uiro-mochi, the confectionary he makes is very delicious. I really want to give him a big cheer personally.

Nakai Tokiko
長命の　石段のぼりて　とかげ這う

Having walked up
Long-life rewarding stone stairs
I see a lizard wriggle

青田揺れ　渡る風を　見る如し

　　I see a wind
　　Pass by on the rice field
　　Green trembles

Nakai Hirokazu

　七夕や　妻と段歩（ゆ）く　長命寺

　　On a Tanabata day
　　A couple go up on stone stairs
　　To Choumei-ji (Long-life temple)

　さざ波や　青田に拡がる　風匂い

　　Ripples
　　Spread on the surface of a rice field
　　Smells of green winds

蛇谷ヶ峰　Peak Jatani-ga-mine 　　　　　　　May 5, 2002

We went to Jatani-ga-mine(901.7m), a mountain peak in Shiga prefecture this time.

First we went to Adogawa JR Station and took a bus for Kutsuki-gakko-mae. Kutsuki village opens Morning Market every Sunday. We bought there "Saba-zushi", mackerel sushi. A road penetrates the village, which is called "Saba-kaido", mackerel road. Long time ago people used this road for carrying "saba" kept in salt from Wakasa to Kyoto.

Then went to Fureai Center and headed for Katsura Valley, which was full of greens, a green color world. The way to the top was steep and there were lots of stairs. So I got very tired with going up the stairs to the top, Jatani-ga-mine.
The view from the top was so splendid. We were able to see northern parts of Lake Biwa. We can see very far from the top of mountains, which is impossible in a city.

On the way back home, we dropped at Tenku Onsen, Tenku hot spring water. We enjoyed bathing and were refreshed and gained energy again.

Nakai Tokiko

子どもの日　父子登山の　くつが鳴る

　　Children's Day,
　　A father and his little son climb up
　　With their boots flapping on the way

山頂に　褒美のウグイス　待ちており

　　In the peak of a mountain
　　A bush warbler sings as a reward
　　For my reaching

Nakai Hirokazu

田植え待つ　水面に映る　雲ゆるり
　　A cloud moves slowly
　　On the water surface of rice fields
　　waiting for rice-planting

新緑の　巨樹に流れる　森の水
　　A babbling brook runs
　　by a huge old tree in the forest　
　　full of green leaves

ウグイスも　眼下の眺めに　感じおり
　　A bush warbler too admires
　　the view below seen from the top,　
　　sings and sings

貴船・二瀬ユリ　April 29

　This day, after a long interval we went hiking in Kibune to enjoy seeing fresh green leaves. It was cloudy. We started our hike from Ninose Station, which is very local and has no station officer. Uguis, bush warblers were chirping everywhere in the mountain where we went up and down.

Nakai Hirokazu

　滝の上　我もと誇る　山の藤　

Above the waterfall,
mountain wisterias are proud
of their blossoms

ポンポン山　Mt. Pon-pon

March 2, 2002

We went to Mt. Pon-pon for hiking after two months interval. The name of the mountain is very unique. The mountain was named because when people stamped on the top of the mountain, it sounded pop.
We got off at JR Takatsuki Station and used a bus to Kagusanguchi. We started walking there by way of Kagusan Shrine and Honzanji Temple to the top of Mt. Pon-pon. The route was a little bit long but it was gentle rise. Many people were enjoying lunch on the top.
We walked down to Izuriha and went to Takatsuki Forest Center, where we enjoyed hot spring bathing. One inconvenient thing is that bus service is not available around three o'clock. We needed to wait for about One hour and half until 4:52. We reached home 15mintes after six.

Nakai Tokiko

のどかなり　浮き世につながる　峰を見て

The serene peaks
of the opposite mountains
lead down to the daily life

ゆっくりと　春は来るらし　露天の湯

Spring is

a little behind the scenery

seen from the open-air bath

Nakai Hirokazu

ポンポンと　落ち葉踏み行く　春の山

Pop, pop, pop
The footsteps on the fallen leaves,
Spring in mountains

峰越ゆる 雲見渡せば　春の夢

The fleecy clouds
passing over the opposite peaks,
dreaming of spring

Maizuru 舞鶴

• We went on a day trip to Maizuru to enjoy eating crab. Light snow was falling there. We visited Maizuru World Brick Museum. It was interesting to see very old bricks on display. Some of them were used in Egypt, Rome, Mesopotamia, the Chinese Great Wall, and famous churches.
• Bricks were used to build great buildings of modern construction in Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa era. Time passed. Brick-buildings became old, and now they give us a feeling of good old days.
• At lunch we enjoyed crab dishes. They were delicious.
• We enjoyed shopping fresh fish, too. It was a very short, but enjoyable trip.

中井　弘一

　点と消ゆ　巡る想いの　旅の雪　　　　

Light snow on a travel
Inner thoughts flash on and on,
vanish as tiny spots

Mt Atago 愛宕山 Jan. 5,2002 We tried this year's first hiking on Jan. 5. We went to Mt. Atago (924m) which is very familiar to Kyoto citizens for its fire-protecting god shrine. We left Kyoto Station bus stop at 8:30 and went to Kiyotaki bus terminal. We started hiking there heading for Tsukinowa Temple (560m). It was a long stair up-route. I had to take rests often because it was tough for me. My wife seemed OK. Her pace was rather faster than mine. Any way, after 2-hour hike, as we came up nearer to the top, the route was snow-packed, and slippery. We first tried new-style crampons, Yaktrax, which is very easy to put on and off. We were able to walk on packed snow and ice confidently. We reached Atago Shrine. We bought "hi-no-youjin" talismans and had lunch. At lunch , we first tried a potable outdoor gas burner and boiled water for cup noodle and coffee. It was fun and good. We could eat hot meals in a very cold atmosphere. We hiked down by way of Mizuo to Hozukyo JR Station. It was 3:20 when we reached the station. We came back home 4:35. We were very tired but enjoyed a lot. 中井　登喜子 肌をさす　風や　神への初登山　 Skin-biting winds blow on the way to the shrine at the top, this yearﾕs first climbing アイゼンの　跡ほどの願い　愛宕山 Traces of crampons on the route to Atago Shrine, as many as wishes to the god 中井　弘一 寒風に　夫婦笑顔で　愛宕参り　　　　 Though cold winds blow A couple hikes up to Atago Shrine With a smile on both faces 山深く　ひとつ閑かに　雪の古寺　 On the high mountainside An old temple stands alone Covered with snow

2002 has come!

　　Nakai Hirokazu　　　

　　白杖置き　鐘打つ人の　笑みの音

Putting aside a white stick

A blind person tolls the watch-night-bell

the sounds of happiness spread out