Friday, August 24, 2007

NOTICE BOARDお知らせ

If you wish to contact us about events, publications and other general matters, please do so through the COMMENTS key below this Board. We will reply to you also through the key. イベント、出版物、その他に関する一般連絡はこのコラム下のCOMMENTS キーにてお願いします
******HAILSTONE PUBLICATIONS******
HAILSTONES (2001) a haiku chapbook ¥700 (sold out)
LOST HEIAN (2003) a Japan-in-Asia haiku gathering ¥800 (discount price for last copies)
ENHAIKLOPEDIA (2005) a haiku almanac, incl. haibun ¥1,000 (newly discounted)
The MOON and INSECTS (2007) a haiku chapbook ¥500 (newly issued by JW)
******HAILSTONE EVENTS******
(RECENT PAST: for event reports, see archive postings)
Jan 27, 2007 First Kukai of 2007 (Hatsu-kukai), Hamayashiki, Osaka (MK/RH)
Feb 18, 2007 Chinese New Year (poetry reading), Jane’s house, Kyoto (JW)
Apr 02, 2007 Hanami (Cherry-blossom viewing 1), Osawa Pond, Kyoto (SG)
Apr 14, 2007 Hanami (Ch-bl. viewing 2), Ninnaji Temple, Kyoto (SG)
May 20, 2007 Mt. Ogura Is Shedding Tears Part IX, Saga, Kyoto (SG/ACE)
June 16, 2007 Haigakai (Haiga Workshop, Lecturer Tsuchi-no-ko), Kyoto (SG)
June 22, 2007 Midsummer's Night Frog-Listening Tour, Saga, Kyoto (MB/SG)
July 28, 2007 Renku-kai at Mumyō-an, Gichūji Temple, Zeze (SG/MK/KY)
Sep 13, 2007 Urban Ginko in Tenroku, N. Osaka (KG/HM)
(FORTHCOMING: for further details, please see separate postings; enquiries through the COMMENTS key, please.)
Sat. Nov 17/Sun. Nov 18 Hailstone Autumn Haike (Haiku Hike) in the Tango Peninsular. Rendezvous: 11:40 Monjudou in Chionji Temple, Hashidate. Train/car choice (see 'O, the Snail!' # 23). Sat. - hike across Amanohashidate sand bar to Kono Shrine, climb Kasamatsu Peak, (climb Kouyama in Kumihama), sotoyu-meguri in Kinosaki Onsen. Sun. - climb Mt. Daishi, hike to Momijidaira, Kinosaki Bungeikan, (hike/boat to Genbudou Caves). Arrive back in Kyoto/Osaka on Sun. even. Takes place if rain. Organizer: Richard Donovan.
Sun. Nov. 25 Mt. Ogura Is Shedding Tears pt. 10. This time, organized by students from the Ritsumeikan Univ. Volunteer Centre! Rendezvous: 10:00 JR Saga Arashiyama Station. Games, rubbish-clearing (gloves/bags provided), tree-planting, and poetry composition - all in one of Kyoto's most beautiful areas! Disperse: 16:00. Total to walk: 4-5 km. Bring weather-proof clothing and tough shoes. Takes place if rain.
Sat. Dec 1 Takaragaike Ginko & Renku Study Meet. Rendezvous: 13:00 Kokusai Kaikan Subway Station. The composition stroll will take us up and over the little hill of Myouhou 妙法 and we will share poems and discuss this summer's renku, 'The First Resting Place' in the Speakeasy Cafe at Shugakuin. Disperse: 17:00.
Organizer: John Dougill. Takes place if rain.
English Haiku Workshops - Hibikiai Forum at Friend Peace House just north of Nashinoki Shrine E. of the Gosho in C.Kyoto (3rd Mons. Oct.-Dec. 18:15) and Senri Yomiuri Culture Center’s Eigo de Haiku in N.Osaka (Nov. 22 and 29). Lecturer: Stephen Gill.
Enquiries, through the COMMENTS key below! If you don't leave your email, we will reply through the COMMENTS key, too.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Mumyo-an Renkukai



Fifteen poets assembled at the Nameless Hut within the grounds of Gichuji Temple in Zeze, Shiga Pref. on the last Saturday in July - a hot, sunny day. The meeting - an attempt to compose a han-kasen (18-stanza linked-verse) and dedicate it to the master haijin, Matsuo Basho, whose grave is at the temple - was lead by Nobuyuki Yuasa. He had invited Eiko Yachimoto of the Association of International Renku to assist him in the process of selection and translation into Japanese. This was a bilingual effort. The hokku itself was by Basho (まず頼む椎の木もあり夏木立); thereafter, 10 verses (by 9 different poets) were compiled before we broke up to visit the nearby Tatsugaoka Haijin Cemetery. The renku is at present being completed using email. Periodically, Nobuyuki sends out a call for candidates for the next stanza, then selects from what he gets. Once finished, the original English version will be put up on the Hotspot for you to evaluate. We should remember that Basho was first and foremost a renga master. While being an act of homage to him, all participants will probably agree that it was a valuable insight into the production of the type of multi-seasonal imagined verse that was so popular in Basho's day. Our thanks to Nobuyuki and Eiko for their hard work.