Seasons of Japan

"Anthology from Court Diaries"

Sun-rising in the spring morning is best. As light closes in slightly over the mountains, the sky is glowing bright and white little by little, but wisps of clouds are turning purple.


I do love midnight summer. Full moon is so splendid, of course. No moon but many fireflies is also wonderful. Few fireflies are drifting in night air; still great. When raining and no light on earth, it may be good.


Nightfall in fall is beyond description. It can be fine; at sunset, when the skyline is close to you, a few crows are hurrying back to their nests. A flight of swan in the far distance sky, how exquisite! The sound of crickets in breeze is supreme.


Winter dawn is superb. The white snows or snow-white frosts are perfect. If not, because of coldness, to hurry for warmth with charcoal is lovely. At daytime, it becomes warmer and the charcoal is burnt to ashes. Terribly bad.

Japanese SeasonsJapan also has four seasons;

spring, summer, autumn, winter.Japanese praise the seasons by

making haiku and tanka, which are short Japanese poems.

Spring

As well as the spring sunrise, Japanese love the cherry blossoms, the sprouting of new life, the snow thaw, and the active birdlife.

Spring Haiku

鶏なくや小富士の麓桃の花a cock crows

at the foot of the small Mt. Fujipeach blossoms

Summer In Japan summer storm can be described as a green wind, because all trees in summer are full of green leaves. In this haiku, the color contrast of green and white paper gives a very sharp and clear and refreshing feeling.

Summer Haiku

夏嵐机上の白紙飛びつくす summer stormwhite paper on the deskall flies away

Autumn

Japanese autumn is famous for leaves, moon, sky, chestnuts.

Autumn Haiku

ともし火の見えて紅葉の奥深し lightsfar way, throughleaves of dense autumnal tints

WinterThe Japanese winter normally has snow.Northern regions in Japan usually hold a snow festival.

Winter Haiku

冬木立のうしろに赤き入り日かな behind the stand

of winter trees a red sunset

Seasons of Japan

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