＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49) on X
(Reference) Original article in Japanese
・「お花畑」「麦の秋」「ぶらんこ」「風光る」などの面白い季語
I previously wrote an article about “interesting seasonal words,” but I have some more interesting ones to share.
1. Flower field
“Ohanabatake” (flower field) is a seasonal word for summer. It can also be written as “お花畠”.
This “ohanabatake” doesn’t refer to artificial flower fields of tulips, cosmos, or lavender in flat areas, but rather to naturally occurring “flower-filled meadows in high mountains” or “colonies of alpine plants.” Famous examples of flower fields include those in Hakuba, Yari, Goshikigahara, and Ibukiyama.
Above the “tree line” in high mountains (approximately 2,500m in central Japan), the period during which plants can grow shortens, resulting in dense growth of extremely small perennial herbs. In midsummer, a multitude of colorful and lovely alpine plants such as *Chinguruma*, *Nikko-kisuge*, and *Bunpo-ge* bloom almost simultaneously.
Example haiku include the following:
* Thin clouds, the summer shadows blurring the flower field – Iida Dakotsu
* In the flower field, we, old and young, leave our impressions – Takii Kosaku
* Flower fields, residing on the sacred peaks of the mountains – Fukuda Ryotei
* Looking down on the flower field, yet traversing the peaks – Nomura Hakugetsu
・雲うすく夏翳にじむお花畠 飯田蛇笏
・お花畑われら老幼影印す 瀧井孝作
・お花畑山霊嶺々に棲み給ふ 福田寥汀
・お花畑見下しつつも峰づたひ 野村泊月
2. The Autumn of Wheat
“Wheat Autumn” is a seasonal word for summer. It is also called “Bakushū” or “Mugiaki.”
It refers to the period from May to June when the wheat ears mature. The wheat harvest is considered to take place around 120 days after the beginning of spring (late May). The golden wheat ears swaying in the early summer sunlight and gentle breeze are beautiful, and the dry sound of the wind blowing through the wheat fields is pleasant to the ear.
Even in Takatsuki City, where I live, while rice paddies and vegetable fields are still seen, wheat fields have become almost nonexistent.
Example haiku are as follows:
* A single postcard floats across the field amidst the wheat harvest. – Yamaguchi Seishi
* Emerging from the deep mountain path, dawn breaks upon the wheat harvest. – Tan Taigi
* Amidst the wheat harvest, the sun rises and Mount Nyoigatake is shrouded in mist. – Hino Sojo
* A temple cat battles a snake during the wheat harvest. – Murakami Kijo
・麦秋や葉書一枚野を流る 山口誓子
・深山路（みやまじ）を出抜けて明けし麦の秋 炭太祇
・麦秋や日出でて霞む如意ケ嶽 日野草城
・麦秋や蛇と戦ふ寺の猫 村上鬼城
3. Swing
“Swing” is a seasonal word associated with spring. It’s also called “shūsen,” “shūsen,” “hansengi,” “furando,” “furakoko,” and “yusawari.”
Originating in ancient China, it was once a pastime for the nobility in Japan. However, adults don’t use swings much anymore.
While it’s not given much attention during the colder months, it’s a plaything that attracts children as the weather warms up.
Fujimon once created a haiku using “furakoko” on the TV show “Prebat,” which became quite a topic of conversation.
Here are some example haiku:
– A friend, holding cherry blossoms – Kobayashi Issa
– The scepter spills from the swing from a great height – Tan Taigi
– The alumni reunion scatters under the moonlight on the swing – Shiba Fukio
– The sandbox swing remains broken as winter approaches – Ogino Teruko
・ふらんどや櫻の花をもちながら 小林一茶
・ふらここの會釋（えしゃく）こぼるや高みより 炭太祇
・鞦韆の月に散じぬ同窓會 芝不器男
・冬に入る砂場ブランコ切れしまま 荻野輝子
4. The wind shines
“Kazehikaru” (風光る) is a seasonal word for “spring.”
As spring arrives, the sunlight gradually intensifies, and a gentle breeze blows, making the wind seem to sparkle and shine.
The vibrant brightness of the sunlight makes the scenery swaying in the wind appear dazzling, and this phrase expresses the joy and hope of spring’s arrival through the blowing wind.
Examples of haiku include:
* Wearing ceremonial attire, sitting on the edge of a veranda, the wind sparkles – Takahama Kyoshi
* The wind sparkles on the wheat fields, gathering around a thatched hut – Mizuhara Shūōshi
* All the heat haze is the light of the wind – Hisamura Gyōdai
* The wind sparkles on the platinum cage of a Java sparrow – Terada Torahiko
・装束をつけて端居（はしい）や風光る 高浜虚子
・麦の風光りあつまる藁屋あり 水原秋櫻子
・陽炎のものみな風の光かな 久村暁台
・文鳥の籠白金に風光る 寺田寅彦
5. Pilgrimage to Ise
“Ise-mairi” (pilgrimage to Ise) is a seasonal word for “spring.” It is also called “Ise-sangu,” “Ise-mode,” “Ise-ko,” or “Sangu-ko.”
This refers to a pilgrimage to Ise Grand Shrine, and in the early modern period, it was often performed in the pleasant spring weather. It seems that “Ise-ko” groups were often formed, and pilgrimages were made together.
“Ise-mairi” became a major trend during the Edo period, also known as “Okage-mairi” or “Nuke-mairi.”
Examples of haiku include:
* Spring is approaching, and various people make their pilgrimages to Ise – Yamamoto Kakei
* This time, I’m away again, on a pilgrimage to Ise – Takahama Kyoshi
* From here, the road to Shima emerges from the Ise pilgrimage – Inahata Teiko
* On the Ise pilgrimage, I picked up the path through the ring road – Awano Seiho
・春めくや人さまざまの伊勢参 山本荷兮
・このたびは伊勢詣とて又も留守 高浜虚子
・伊勢参ここより志摩へ抜ける道 稲畑汀子
・伊勢参輪中のみちをひろひけり 阿波野青畝