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10 well-known Japanese haiku poems
In the 17th century, Haikai poetry which had the theme of fun and humor, entered the realm of literary arts. Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) introduced the spirit of Sabi into the poetry and enhanced it to an art.
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Though there are countless haiku poems, I would show you 10 most famous poems. Please enjoy them!
1.古池や 蛙飛び込む 水の音
Author: Matsuo Basho
[Japanese]古池や 蛙飛び込む 水の音
Furuike ya/ Kawazu tobikomu/ Mizu no oto
[English]The old pond
A frog leaps in.
Sound of the water.
2.春の海 ひねもすのたり のたりかな
Author: Yosa Buson
[Japanese]春の海 ひねもすのたり のたりかな
Haruno-umi Hinemosu-Notari Notarikana
[English]Spring ocean
Swaying gently
All day long.
Translated by Miura Diane and Miura Seiichiro
3.痩蛙 負けるな一茶 是にあり
Author: Kobayashi Issa
[Japanese]痩蛙 負けるな一茶 是にあり
Yase gaeru/Makeruna Issa kore ni ari
[English]Skinny frog,
Don’t get beaten!
Issa is here
4.菜の花や 月は東に 日は西に
Author: Yosa Buson
[Japanese]菜の花や 月は東に 日は西に
Na-no-hana ya/ Tsuki ha higashi ni/ Hi wa nishi ni
[English]The canola flowers.
The moon is in the eastern sky.
The sun is in the western sky.
5.閑けさや 岩にしみいる 蝉の声
Author: Matsuo Basho
[Japanese]閑けさや 岩にしみいる 蝉の声
Shizukesa ya/ Iwa ni shimiiru/ Semi no koe
[English]Oh, tranquility!
Penetrating the very rock,
A cicada’s voice.
Translated by Helen Craig Mccullough
*The haiku poem at Risshakuji Temple, Yamagata Prefecture.
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6.柿くへば 鐘が鳴るなり 法隆寺
Author: Masaoka Shiki
[Japanese]柿くへば 鐘が鳴るなり 法隆寺
Kaki kueba/ Kane ga naru nari/ Horyuji
[English]When I ate a persimmon
The bell rung
The Horyuji temple
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7.目には青葉 山ほとゝぎす はつ松魚
Author: Yamaguchi Sodo
[Japanese]目には青葉 山ほとゝぎす はつ松魚
Me ni wa aoba/Yama hototogisu/Hatsu gatsuo
[English]The green leaves for eyes
The little cuckoo in the mountain
The first bonito of the season
8.降る雪や 明治は遠く なりにけり
Author: Nakamura Kusatao
[Japanese]降る雪や 明治は遠く なりにけり
Furu yuki ya/Meiji wa toku /Nari ni keri
[English]The snow is falling.
The Meiji era got
Further away.
9.朝顔に 釣瓶とられて もらひ水
Author: Kaga Chiyome
[Japanese]朝顔に 釣瓶とられて もらひ水
Asagao ni/Tsurube torare te/Morai mizu
[English]The well-bucket is
Taken by the morning glory
Going to a neighbour for water.
10.梅一輪 一輪ほどの 暖かさ
Author: Hattori Ransetsu
[Japanese]梅一輪 一輪ほどの 暖かさ
Ume ichi rin/Ichi rin hodo no /Atatakasa
[English]A single plum blossom
It is warm
As a single
Basho’s haiku poems
The haiku poems of the famous haiku poets
