About this Waka (Poem)

Idle Thoughts

In 1924, Japan still carried the echoes of Taishō democracy while facing the aftermath of the Great Kantō Earthquake just a year before. People were searching for recovery and new ways of life.

The gentle light of a winter day can be read as a symbol of hope for a society burdened with post-disaster anxiety. At the same time, the dry valley suggests both the severity and the quiet stillness of nature.

Seen against the backdrop of 1924, this poem is more than a simple nature verse. It reflects a “journey of the heart,” shaped by the tension between uncertainty and hope in its time.

About this Waka (Poem)

Idle Thoughts

This waka adopts the unusual pattern of 5-8-5-8-8, with extra syllables in three of its five phrases
(FYI: the standard waka pattern is 5-7-5-7-7).

Nevertheless, it has been selected for many anthologies of outstanding poems, including Shinsō Hishō and Kindai Shūka, and was even lavishly praised in Masaoka Shiki’s Uta-yomi ni Atauru Sho. From the 10th century through modern times, it has continued to be highly regarded, inspiring multiple derivative poems along the way.

Honestly, for a layperson, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly why this poem stands above others. Yet what makes it remarkable, I believe, is how vividly it evokes the scene. The image unfolds before one’s eyes with striking clarity, and its beauty feels unmistakable.

About this Waka (Poem)

Idle Thoughts

This time, I inscribed the haiku onto a postcard whose fan-shaped section had been cut out. The rich, chic brown background makes the fan-shape stand out beautifully, a very appealing design yet:

• the fan-shape is laid at a diagonal, and
• the fan overflows beyond the postcard, meaning it could not be written across in full

Thus, it was a somewhat “quirky” design, frankly, it looked difficult to write on. Perhaps for this reason, while other postcards sold well and ran low, this one remained in stock, clearly unpopular.

Nevertheless, guided by a hunch that “though difficult, this could become a special piece,” I acquired it and pondered many layout ideas. Yet as soon as my brush touched it, the verse surprisingly settled into the shape of its own accord.

Writing on such a limited “vessel” as a cut-out fan,
the stillness of the poem seemed to be drawn inward, as if absorbed into a bowl-like hollow;
though only a small scrap of paper, it gave me the pleasure of containing the vastness of winter in miniature.

The work is available for purchase here.

μはがき作品｜雪の深さ / Depth of Snow – Japanese Calligraphy Art | totKnow - ととのう - powered by BASE

いくたびも雪の深さを尋ねけり正岡子規（意訳：何度も何度も雪がどれくらい降ったのか...

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What kind of verse?

In The Tale of Genji, there is a scene where Hikaru Genji, when exiled to Suma, hears the sound of plovers in the night and expresses his loneliness in a poem. This poem by Kanemasa is thought to be something of an homage to that literary tradition.

FYI, Suma faces Awaji Island, with the Seto Inland Sea lying between them.

Kana Calligraphy Piece: Kayo-u Chidori

This kana-script artwork displays the scene of plovers crossing over the sea. The flowing kana script and silver-sand accents evoke the movement of the birds and the moonlit shore.

If you’re interested, feel free to contact us.

What kind of verse?

A solemn world of frozen winter silence and beautiful moonlight comes to mind.

On the Coldest Night of the Year

The coldest day of the year is said to fall during the 24 solar term known as Dai-kan (“Great Cold”). This period, which occurs around January 21st each year, marks the peak of winter’s chill, yet nature quietly begins its preparations for the arrival of spring.

This time of year also coincides with the university entrance exams, a significant milestone often regarded as a trial in life. I sincerely hope that all students facing these challenges can fully demonstrate their abilities despite the harsh cold.

This piece was created with a prayer that, like the bright and enduring moonlight in the freezing winter, their efforts will bear fruit.

I hope this work conveys the tranquility and hope brought by the moonlit night.

What kind of verse?

brief comment

This poem was composed by Saigyō during his time in a snowbound mountain village, surrounded by the profound silence brought about by the absence of visitors. Although he chose solitude for himself, the poem subtly reveals a yearning for human connection.

For this piece, I selected paper adorned with branches of nandina. Known as a symbol of good fortune due to the wordplay “nanten” (which can mean “to overcome difficulties”), nandina’s red berries evoke a sense of warmth and hope even amidst the harshness of winter. I feel this resonates with the quiet warmth hidden within the loneliness conveyed in Saigyō’s waka.

In my brushwork, I aimed to express both the stillness of the snowy mountain and the subtle stirring of emotions as one thinks of others. At the same time, I sought to create an overall sense of calm and harmony.

I hope this piece allows you to feel both the chill of winter and the warmth that lies hidden within it.

What kind of verse?

brief comment

This poem seems to convey a sense of awe at the transitions in nature, as well as the symbolic image of ‘purification’ brought by the snow. Additionally, the perspective that connects yesterday (the past) and today (the present) is quite intriguing.

What kind of verse?

brief comment

This “waka” poem was created for “1500th poetry contest” in 1202. This collection of Japanese poems is the biggest one.

The promoter was Retired Emperor Gotoba. He ordered 100 poems each to be presented to 30 representative poets. The 3,000 poetries collected in this way were combined into pairs, left and right, and numbered 1,500.

This is a collection of poems that gives you a sense of the depth of the culture of the early Kamakura period, inspite of samurai warriors era, and the passion of the retired Emperor Gotoba.

What kind of verse?

brief comment

A fan “Oughi” supports the expression of the elegant emotion of Japanese poetry. Furthermore, by using a “tugigami” like this work, the expression becomes even richer.

A tsugigami is basically a paper made by pasting together pieces of some kinds of paper that have been cut or torn. It is possible to create paper with a variety of atmospheres by combining colors and the shape of fragments. It is a traditional technique used in gorgeous old calligraphy, such as the “Nishi Honganji Book Thirty-Six Houses Collection”.

For kana-sho calligrapher, it is exciting to use the tugigami. It would be nice to be able to use such tsugami easily, so I took up the challenge of making tsugami this time.

What kind of verse?

Note

This year’s “NHK’s historical epic series”, which is the biggest dram program in Japan, is set in mid-Heian period 1000 years ago. It is just the era when the “kana-sho” began to be widely used.

The main character in this dram is Murasaki Shikibu, a woman who was famous for writer of “Genji monogatari”.

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2023.02.08

Personally, what interests me is the scene where the characters are writing “kana-sho”.

Although the lead actress is left-handed, she has trained to write kana beautifully. The way she writes with the paper on her desk, in her lap, or floating in the air is reminiscent of the Heian period people who freely controlled their brushes.

If you were interested in the “kana-sho”, how about watching the program?

Ki, Turayuki is well known as a expert of such the “kana-sho”, who was born about hundred years before Murasaki Shikibu. The poem of this work was created by him.