【正岡子規～子規周辺の人々を短歌とともに～】

Masaoka Shiki, known for his haiku "When I eat a persimmon, the bell tolls at Horyuji Temple," was also known as a haiku poet, tanka poet, Japanese literature scholar, and essayist. During his short life of 34 years, he launched an innovative haiku and tanka movement. He can be said to have determined the direction of short poetry literature that continues to this day. Although Shiki is renowned as a haiku poet, he actually began his literary studies with waka and tanka. In this article, we'd like to introduce Masaoka Shiki and the people around him, along with his tanka. Poems by Masaoka Shiki ・When the cherry blossoms on the banks of Sumida River burst, I return wearing a brocade of flowers. ・Nine players, nine fields, occupy the baseball field, and the game is about to begin. ・I never tire of watching this long-awaited baseball game played by Americans. ・The ball is launched high into the clouds, then falls back into someone's hands. ・The crimson rose buds have grown two feet tall, and the spring rain is falling. ・The first flowers have bloomed, and to my eyes, this year's spring is over. ・The wisteria flowers in a vase are short, so I place them on a tatami mat. It never reached me. ・White dew forms on each pine needle, falling and spilling, spilling and falling again. Poem by Natsume Soseki Two pillars of red smoke and black smoke stand straight in the autumn sky. As I travel through the lands of Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla, white autumn clouds cloud my way. On a chilly night, outside the window, the sound of poplars deceives the rain. Poem by Akiyama Saneyuki ・I will carry the heart you gave me as I sent you off, and protect the calm waters. ・On a snowy day, when I open the north window, my penis shrinks in the cold.