October 6, 2025

Introducing Haiku by Everyday People #04

As we continue exploring Mr. Hiromichi Yokoyama's haikus, we again pause to notice life’s small but meaningful moments. In this fourth installment, the scenes focus on Osaka Castle—where summer tranquility, the gentle passing of seasons, and a quiet holiday morning create vivid images in just seventeen syllables. Haiku, though brief, often captures not only nature but also the quiet human emotions that come with it. We hope these poems inspire you to pause, reflect, and even try composing your own haiku.

Castle Hike (Haiku) Selection 10

夏の堀漂う鯉も気怠るげに
On a hot summer day
Carp are floating languorously
In the moat of the castle

夏/の/堀	漂う/鯉/も	気怠るげに
Natsu/No/Hori	Tadayou/Koi Mo	Kedaru. Geni
Summer/Of/Moat	Floating/Carp/Also	Languorously/Seems

Koi (鯉): Carp. Since this fish is commonly used as a seasonal word (Kigo) to indicate summer, here is a photo. The fish in the center of the image is called Higoi (緋鯉). Unlike the other grey-colored ones, its orange pattern is stunning and was cultivated by humans over a long period. It is used as a Kigo, and other grey ones, such as wild carp, are not. The size of an adult is approximately 50 cm or more.

Castle Hike (Haiku) Selection 11

毬栗の秋を見ぬまま朽ち果てし
Chestnuts in the bur
Without seeing the harvest of Autumn
Had fallen to the ground

毬栗/の	秋を/見/ぬ/まま	朽ち/果てし
Igaguri/no	Akiwo/mi/nu/mama	Kuchi/hateshi
Chesnuts in bur/are	Autumn/Seeing/Not	Decayed/Had done

There are some kinds of fruit trees planted in the area of Osaka Castle, not in the vast park, but just a few trees. The photo here is of an apple I recently found, which was extremely hard and did not seem edible.

Why are such fruit trees found in today’s park of Osaka Castle?
Based on the historical fact that Osaka Castle was purely a military facility, were those trees planted so that we would remember and recognize that ancient Samurai ate them during sieges?
Anyway, chestnuts are one of the favorites for the Japanese.

Castle Hike (Haiku) Selection 12

海の日の朝餉は森のカフェテラス
On Ocean Day’s holiday
People are taking breakfast
At a café in the woods

海の日/の	朝餉/は/森/の	カフェテラス
Uminohi/No	Asage/Wa Mori/No	Cafeterrace
Ocean day/Of	Breakfast/Is-Woods/At	Cafeterrace

Ocean Day: A national holiday in Japan celebrated on the third Monday of July.
As a country composed of an archipelago, the Japanese people have a special bond with the ocean, and many yacht harbors line the coast. However, not everyone in Japan can afford to own a yacht—I am one of them—so many enjoy the holiday near their homes. Osaka Castle is located in the center of Osaka City, surrounded by many residential neighborhoods. It's a great place to spend a holiday.
Besides Ocean Day, the second Monday of August is designated as Mountain Day.

Closing Message

With this fourth installment, we are now drawing closer to the end of Mr. Yokoyama’s series—just two more to go. Each haiku reminds us that even ordinary days can hold beauty worth capturing in words.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the readers who have joined us on this journey so far. Please look forward to the next chapter of this series, where new verses will continue to offer glimpses into the harmony between nature and daily life.
Until then, may you find small moments of inspiration in your own surroundings.