September 26, 2025

Introducing Haiku by Everyday People #03

In this third installment of Haiku by Everyday People, we continue to follow Hiromichi Yokoyama’s everyday encounters around Osaka Castle. Unlike Basho’s haiku, these verses reflect the poet’s personal observations—quiet, heartfelt moments woven into the modern cityscape. What he captures is not just the scenery of the castle but also pieces of human life, sometimes joyful, sometimes heavy with unspoken stories.

Castle Hike (Haiku) Selection 7

癌病院窓辺の人見る夏の城
Cancer Hospital
Someone watching from the window-side
Castle in Summer

癌/病院	窓－辺/の/人/見る	夏/の/城
Gann/Byoin	Mado-Be/No/Hito/Miru	Natsu/No/Shiro
Cancer Hospital	Window‐Side/Of/Person/Watching	Summer/Of/Castle

Cancer Hospital: National Cancer Research Center and Hospital was opened 3-4 years ago, so most residents of Osaka do not know what the building is. Its modern and beautiful appearance resembles a resort hotel. Ironically, the hospital entrance and the castle tour-bus stop face each other across the street. How was the man depicted in this Haiku looking at the cheerful and noisy tourists?

Castle Hike (Haiku) Selection 8

夏の城一人朝餉のホームレス
In the garden of castle
A homeless is taking breakfast
Under summer sunshine

夏/の/城	一人/朝餉/の	ホームレス
Natsu/No/Shiro	Hitori/Asage/No	Hoomuresu
Summer/Of/Castle	A man/Breakfast/Of	Homeless

The photo was taken early in the morning, around 6 AM. No tourists are there yet, and the man in the photo disappeared before the busy time. We cannot inquire about his life, but judging from his dress, it seemed cheap but not dirty; he might have led an honest life.　However, there is a gap among people in this world. Societal problems are everywhere.

Castle Hike (Haiku) Selection 9

葉に縋り保ちし命蝉鳴かず
Clinging on a leaf
A cicada is living persevere
No sound of buzzing

葉/に/縋り	保ちし/命	蝉/鳴かず
Ha/Ni/Sugari	Tamochishi/Inochi	Semi/Nakazu
Leaf/To/Cling	Keeping/Life	Cicada/Not buzzing

Cicada (Semi . 蝉): A very famous insect in the world of Haiku, thanks to maestro Matsuo Basho in his masterpiece – Shizukasaya Iwani-shimiiru Seminokoe. (Silence, Cicada’s voice is soaking into the rock). It is approximately 5cm in length and is found everywhere in Japan during summer under the trees. The nymph stays underground for 5 to 6 years before emerging into the air and shedding its skin. The adult's life is surprisingly short, about one week. It makes a very loud noise throughout the day and summer, buzzing their wings – not crying by throat. As for the different name, Locust is common. However, since insects like grasshoppers are also included in that name, we use cicada to avoid confusion.

Closing Message

Through these three haiku, Yokoyama reveals that Osaka Castle is not just a historic landmark, but a stage for human struggles and fleeting lives—patients watching from hospital windows, the homeless seeking solitude, and a cicada clinging to existence. In the ordinary, he finds the profound.
Stay with us for the next chapter, Haiku by Everyday People #4, where Selections 10–12 will continue this journey of quiet encounters and reflections.