CULTURE: Haiku, Or the Essence of Being Japanese

By Suvendrini Kakuchi Reprint | | Print |

Suvendrini Kakuchi

TOKYO, Feb 13 1996 (IPS) - The popularity of the haiku, the traditional Japanese poem, in a nation where shows by pop star Michael Jackson are booked-up almost a year before the scheduled dates, offers a rare look at the stark contrasts that mark Japanese modern life.

“There is a secret to Japan’s undying love for the haiku,” explains Hisao Yamazaki, a haiku teacher at the Haiku Poet Association. “Haiku represents, even today, the essence of being Japanese.”

The poems, among the world’s shortest, are composed of a simple three lines, of five, seven and five syllables respectively.

In contrast to the high-brow tanka, poetry that dates back to 15th century, the compact format of haiku is strictly adhered to, even though subject matter has changed over the years.

Simple, intuitive, penetration into nature and life marks the attraction of the haiku. A poem by Japan’s most famous poet, Matsuo Basho, who lived in the mid-seventeenth century, illustrates the aesthetic essence. It goes:

“On a withered bough/ A crow alone is perching;/ Autumn evening now.”

Tanka, reserved for the Imperial Family and lofty intellectuals, deals with personal feelings. The haiku, too, is intended to express the emotions of the authors, not in a direct manner, but through an object or subject matter such as nature. The poem has rhythm, though there is no rhyme.

The simplicity of the verse has encouraged millions of average Japanese to try their poetry skills. The poetry has also attracted international attention and has a vast army of followers around the world.

“After years of devoting oneself to hard work for the sake of a livelihood, then comes old age and with it the time and maturity to devote oneself to haiku,” says Makiko Hirama, 70, a widely read poetess who started composing thirty years ago.

Hirama, who writes about the joy of making new friends, the serenity of her daily life and the subtle beauty of seasonal change, has published three books since she began writing verse.

“Haiku has given me a new meaning in my life. Apart from meeting new people, my daily life has been enriched and I have a wonderful new hobby,” she said.

In Japan, by various estimates, there are between three million and 10 million haiku composers. While the majority of composers belong to the older generation, experts ensure the enthusiasm for the haiku will not die off. (MORE)

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