BAMBOO LEAVES RUSTLE (HAIKU)

Bamboo Leaves Rustle

Bamboo leaves rustle


Dancing on warm summer breeze –


Shadows through shoji

WALK IN THE PARK (HAIKU)

Walk In The Park

walking in the park

gold and green beneath my feet -

autumn's golden rain

HAIKU, PART I

HAIKU, PART I

Haiku is a style of Japanese poetry a modification or alteration of the older form, hokku (the opening verse of a coupled verse form referred to as Haikai no renga, in the 19th Century by Masaoka Shiki. A conventional hokku consists of a pattern of 5, 7, and then 5 morae or “phonetic units” which one can relate to syllables in English, but not totally. A traditional hokku also contains a special kigo or “season word” which tends to describe the season of the year in which the renga is set. Hokku often joins two and occasionally three different components into a cohesive sensory thought, with a key grammatical pause or kire, which is, as a rule, located either at the conclusion of either the first set of five morae or the second set of seven morae. These fundamentals of the older hokku are held to be indispensable to haiku as well, although modern writers of more “free-form” haiku may not always include them. Senryu is a related poetic form that tends to put emphasis on humor and human idiosyncrasies and shortcomings instead of seasons.

Masaoka Shiki (1867 – 1902) was a Japanese author, poet, critic and journalist. He is honored as the last of the great masters of Japanese poetry and is often credited being solely responsible for the revitalization of Japanese poetry, particularly the old waka form, then referring to it as tanka and using the term haiku to take the place of “hokku”.

SAMURAI ARMOR

Samurai Armor

A modern ukiyo-e print showing samurai full armor and decorative helmet, by Tokuriki Tomikichiro (1902-1999). The print itself is dated about 1950. Tomikichiro Tokuriki was one of the members of the Sosaku Hanga movement. He was born in Kyoto where he attended the School of Fine Arts and Crafts. After World War II he established his own publishing company, Matsukyo Publishing Company. Tomikichiro Tokuriki was a passionate Sosaku Hanga printmaker. However he earned his living with prints in Shin Hanga style. Today everybody knows him for the Shin Hanga style prints published by Uchida and Unsodo

TANKA FOR TAMAKI

Tanka For Tamaki

Squirrels come for food
Gently touch her hand in thanks
Old friends meet again

A SMALL WISDOM

A Small Wisdom

"To love nature is to become one with the spirit of the way" (doshin),
Which is one step on the way to enlightenment.


From Muso's "Muchu Mondoshu” (lit. "Dialogues In A Dream")

AKI APPROACHES

aki approaches
crickets sing, cicadas cry –
trees begin to blush

-Tokugawa

AUTUMN MOON

Autumn Moon

Autumn moon, geese fly
Fleeing winter’s cold embrace
My heart flies with them.

A LESSON IN BUSHIDO: OUR DUTIES TO OUR PARTENTS, PART II

Our Duties To Our Parents, Part II

When a person who has embraced the spirit of Bushido takes on an employer; that is, he becomes an employee of a person or company, he will understand the requirements of loyalty and of duty in that position. When such a person’s employer or business is successful and perhaps even thriving, that is taken for granted. It should also be so that when something happens to his employer or company (perhaps there are all sorts of serious problems) that person is still fiercely loyal and does not leave his employer, even when 100 co-workers, or friends and associates of the employer are reduced to ten and then perhaps even to one,

Parents and employers, duty to family and loyalty to employer – these things differ in name only. There truly should be no difference in the genuineness of the heart. It was said long ago, “ Look for loyal ministers in homes with filial sons.” There is no such thing as someone who is on one hand disrespectful to his parents and yet on the other, is faithful to his employer. It cannot be. If someone is so immature as to be neglectful in care and respect for his family, who are the very origin of his or her existence, there is no way that he can be moved by the kindness of an employer, who is not his own flesh and blood, and be completely loyal.

If a man who is not caring toward his parents at home goes out and goes to work for someone, he will keep his eyes on his employer’s balance sheet and as soon as he sees a little slip, his attitude will change. In an emergency, he will flee or turn traitor. It has always been so and yet, this is something to be ashamed of and something that we all must be wary of.

A Lesson In Bushido: Our Duties to Our Parent, Part I.

A Lesson in Bushido

Our Duties to Our Parents, Part I

05.16.06.

For a person who follows Bushido, the taking good care of one’s parents is fundamental. If people do not care for their parents, they are lacking in principle, even if they are exceptionally smart, talented, well spoken, and good looking. That is to say, a person may have many of the blessings and gifts of life, but if that person does not take care of their parents, all that amounts to nothing.

Allow me to explain. In Bushido, it is essential to do things right and to do things completely: from the root to the branch so to speak. If one does not understand the principle of the root and the branch, then they cannot truly understand their duties in life; furthermore, one who does not know his duty cannot consider themselves followers of Bushido even in a modern context.
To begin to understand the principle of the root and the branch, one might consider going to a garden, any garden, and looking carefully at what can be found there. Then one should think deeply about what one sees. Understanding the principle of the root and the branch means understanding that our parents are the roots of our bodies. Our bodies are the branches, in the form of flesh and bones, of our parents. In a modern world, it is because of our desire to establish ourselves in our careers, and in society, acquiring status and material things, that we tend to neglect our parents, who are the roots. Further, if we think about it, no plant, though it may have strong and deep roots, can long survive if there are no branches and leaves. We move away from our parents, to other cities or towns, in pursuit of “things” and leave our parents behind, only to see or hear from us on rare occasions. When we have children (our parents grandchildren, who may be thought of as the leaves), we tend to keep them separated also. This is not a good thing and shows a lack of understanding for “roots and branches.”

There are two basic ways of taking good care of our parents.

Let us presume that there are parents who are kind, considerate, and of a mild temperament and character, who have educated their children with real kindness and affection and who have provided well for their children. Normally, it should be most easy for us to do our duties to such parents and it would just come naturally and be worthy of no particular praise. Yet, many of us are guilty of not giving our kind parents the thought and care they deserve. So in this modern world, the performance of such duties is worthy indeed of praise.
Remember that even with strangers, when they have treated us with kindness or have helped us out personally, we tend not to overlook it – if they, in turn, become in need of something we can do or provide for them, we are willing even to set aside our own affairs to see to it. How much less could we ever expect to think that we have done enough to care for our parents, in view of the depth of the love that they have shown us in every way! Therefore, to take care of our parents is our duty!

But suppose that we have parents who re or were cranky, argumentative, intrusive, bossy, inconsiderate, demanding or who interfere our daily lives, or who complain to others how troubled they are by the poor treatment that they get from their children; thus, damaging the reputation of those children. To honor such unreasonable parents as parents and to take the trouble to humor them, to praise them, to lament their aging, and to take care of them in a sincere manner, without negligence, this is truly noteworthy and of praise and something we should strive for. It is our duty as children. It is the duty of leaves to take care of the roots, no matter what.

Next Time: How our care for our parents reflects on the rest of our lives.

COURAGE: AN OLD FABLE FOR MODERN TIMES

Courage: An Old Fable for Modern Times

04.30.06.

Once, long, long ago, in Kamakura, there lived an old Samurai. Well, he was not just an old samurai. Actually, he was really not such an old man, but his hair (now thinning) was silver as were his neatly trimmed beard and mustache, and he was at the age when every injury he had every received in battle, every scar, reminded him daily that they were there and thus how he came to have them. He was a man of great fame in the province and had a reputation for courage, honesty and wisdom. A master swordsman, a sensei of kendo, iaido, and bushido, he was hatamoto to the shogun himself in Edo, and ready at a moment’s notice to go into battle for his lord. It was said that he was never seen to smile, yet, it was also said, that if you looked closely, you could often see a twinkle in the old man’s eyes.

But, he was retired now, as retired as any samurai can be. Now he spent much of his time in the beautiful garden of his home in the hills of Kamakura, or writing haiku, and producing beautiful works of shodo and sumi-e that were renowned all over. He also had a small dojo where he taught selected students in the samurai arts as well as in the culture of Japan.

The old samurai had a grandson, Ichiro, whom he loved early. The samurai’s son, Ichiro’s father and also a samurai of some position, was far too busy going about his duties, against the old samurai’s advice and teaching, to pay proper attention to his wife or to see to the proper training and preparation of his son. Therefore, the old samurai chose to take Ishiro under his wing, and sought to provide him with the best training and examples possible.

Ishiro was 8 years old, small for his age; yet, good looking and perhaps even a bit “cute” which is probably not a good thing to say about a future samurai. Ichiro worked very hard on all of his lessons, from swordsmanship, to hand-to-hand combat, to reading, writing, and even mathematics. Whenever studies for the day were over, Ichiro and his friends would do what all young boys do: rough and sometimes dangerous things that tested themselves and each other in terms of their physical ability and courage. While the old samurai was satisfied with Ichiro’s over-all abilities, he knew also that often his grandson lacked confidence and was hesitant or failed to keep up with the other boys. Ichiro was also aware of this.

One day, in summer, one a warm afternoon, as the old samurai sat in his garden “watching the rocks grow” he was interrupted by the presence of his grandson. “I am so sorry to bother you Grandfather,” the boy said. But I must talk to you.” His voice was sad and perhaps even trembled a bit.

“What is it Ichiro? You know that you may ask me anything,” answered the grandfather.

“It is something unworthy of your time I am sure, but I have know one else to ask. I feel so badly because I am not nearly as strong, brave, or courageous as my friends. They all seem to have great courage and I have none, Grandfather. Where can I find courage? How can I find it, get it,” Ichiro asked.

“Oh, so you think you have no courage?” The samurai asked.

“No grandfather, I don’t and I have no idea where to look for it or how to find it,” the boy answered.

Grandfather thought and thought, all the while with a sparkle in his eye and fighting to hold back a smile. “Well, this is indeed a serious matter Ichiro. Tell your mother to bring you here hone-half hour before sunset tomorrow, in your best clothes. Tell her only that it is for a very special ceremony that I will conduct, and nothing more than that. Now, you may go. I will see you tomorrow evening.”

After Ichiro had left, the old samurai went to the kitchen of his household and asked the head cook for small portions of the bitterest herbs he had on hand. Carefully, and with a slight smile on his face, he wrapped each of the herbs carefully in small silk packages and set them aside for the following day.

The next day, at the appointed time, Ichiro arrived at his grandfather’s gate accompanied by his mother. The old samurai’s wife, Midori-san, took the boy from his mother at the front door and said only, “Ichiro will return home shortly. His grandfather wishes only to do tea with him, nothing more.” As the boy and Midori-san walked down the hallway toward the garden, she explained to Ichiro that his grandfather was preparing a very special and secret ceremony, during which he would receive courage and instructed him that he was to say nothing to his grandfather but to observe strict silence and respect. Furthermore, he was never, under any circumstances, under pain of severe punishment, to ever tell anyone of this.

Now both frightened and excited, he entered the garden and walked along the path and over the small footbridge to the small teahouse at the rear of the garden. There his grandfather waited for him. Silently, the boy made a deep bow and then, has he had been trained, took the proper position at the old samurai’s side. The old man only nodded to the boy and began the ceremony, as formal as any tea ceremony you could ever imagine, with the difference that in addition to the traditional macha, the old man made a point of showing the boy each of the “special” herbs as he opened their packages and added them to the “tea.” At the end of the preparation, the old man offered Ichiro the cup, a beautiful cup of many blue and white glazes. The boy accepted the cup and began to take the first sip.“Oh! This is terrible grandfather! So sorry, but I cannot drink this at all. You cannot expect me to drink such a thing! What is it?” Ichiro blurted out.

Calmly, the old samurai turned to his grandson and said, “Well, if it was inside of you, it would be courage. Even just a taste of it has given you the courage to speak to me in such a rude and disrespectful manner. Now, finish it,” he ordered in the sternest fashion he could muster.

Hesitatingly, the boy looked deep into his grandfather’s eyes, then bowed deeply, and with difficult, drank from the cup until it was empty. Then the old samurai took the coup from his grandson and dismissed him, reminding him to never mention any of this to anyone, under any circumstances.

In the following days, Ichiro, despite his small size, began to change, and gradually was able to keep up with his playmates and even to challenge their abilities to keep up with him. The old samurai noted this with great satisfaction.

Then one day, his grandson came to him again. “Grandfather, I think you most deeply for the courage you have given me, but I fear that it is gradually diminishing.”

"Oh, whatever can you mean Ichiro-chan?” the old man asked.

“Well,” answered Ichiro, “Sometimes my friends and I, when we are doing things after class, playing or climbing, or well, doing many things, sometimes they are very dangerous, and I find myself hesitating to do them or not wanting to do them. I am worried that my courage is wearing away. What should I do, Grandfather?”

“Well,” answered the old samurai, again with a sparkle in his eyes and nothing but kindness in his voice, “Perhaps it is not that you have lost any courage at all. Only perhaps, it is the beginning of wisdom.”

© 2006, Hayato Tokugawa

IS GLOBALIZATION CHANGING JAPAN?

Is Globalization Changing Japan?

2006.04.26

I have many questions, which I really don’t expect answers to but which I bring up here in the hopes of opening some discussion or debate on the subject.
Historically, Japan has in modern history, undergone two, maybe three significant periods of change. The first period of change was in the ending stages of the Tokugawa Shogunate, when the “barbarians” came out of the East and West, and forced the opening of Japan to the rest of the world, followed by the Meiji Era. I think in this case, at this point in history, Japan had no choice but to change and it’s people made drastic and wonderful achievements at becoming a member of the world nations.

The second period was that following WW2. What can one say about that, except that it happened and Japan again did marvelous things to rebuild and to, in many ways, re-invent itself?

Perhaps the third period was during and immediately after the “Bubble Economy.” Now there is a trend toward “world globalization”: instant communication and commerce anywhere in the world - instant exchanges of information, instant business. I am wondering if this could (or is) having a negative effect on Japanese culture and the Japanese people.

I wonder if the Japanese government and the people in the Diet haven’t gone about things wrong, at the sacrifice of its people and culture. The government has done things so quickly, so rapidly that it makes me question whether they have really thought about what they are doing. Has the government in its diplomatic and economic decisions, really considered or thought about Japan and the people, instead of only catering to the wants and desires of their political friends. I am concerned that there has been little thought given about the people and the culture and that in the long-term, the ordinary Japanese people will suffer and pay for the effects of government decisions.

Everything is done these days in such a hurry – rush, rush, dash, and dash. I think that this has potentially done great damage to Japanese culture and society. One of the things that made Japan great, that enabled it to make so much wonderful progress in the Meiji Period and after, was Japanese diligence. Japan was famous for its quality craftsmanship and industrial ability because Japanese people (even the “little people” – artists, crafts people, etc.) took the time to do good planning, and to properly investigate things before doing something. They took their time and did not rush. It would seem that the Japanese government, Japanese business, and now even the people themselves, no longer take the time, the thought, the care, that made them so special and unique in the world.

Politicians are not connected to the lives of the real people – to the real world. There is now a vicious cycle of the people paying more, for example gasoline, and then having to work more to pay for things, and because they are working more and are earning more, the prices go up once again. It is potentially a never-ending cycle. It is like a dog trying to catch its own tail – it doesn’t happen. And because they are caught up in this cycle, there is not time for anything else – no time for art, for culture, not even to be kind (which is something else that made Japan and the Japanese people stand out in the world).

The good news is that it all can be changed, while Japan still maintains its place in the world. Greed and the seeking of power I think, drive globalization. There is no vision of tomorrow, unless it is only about how profits will appear on the next quarterly report. No one, from the top and now progressing downward to the average person, things about the future. It is, in my mind, becoming more a world of only “now” and of “self”, which I will admit is the way of things in the US now. Most sad.

I am wondering if such things as Bushido have even more relevance now in the life of Japan, on all levels. Should it come back? Can it come back? I think so. I think everyone it is an important consideration – to be accountable or responsible for our mistakes and to move forward from them with discipline. It is something that is missing in American culture and is disappearing from Japanese culture, and I think it is necessary.

Today we play the “Blame Game.” It used to be if there was something wrong, you stopped, thought about the problem, fixed it, and then moved on. The “American Way” has been to find someone to blame, punish him or her, and then move on. That is becoming more of a “global” attitude towards things. It saddens me.

I come from an older generation that had a respect for the land and for other people. In Japan, people felt a responsibility, a duty; to do not only what was asked of them, but in addition, what was not asked of them. It gave strength of character that is lost in the US and is being lost here. We no longer take the time to sit and talk to our children, and they do not take the time to sit and listen, and to learn from older generations with the result that American culture has slipped away, and Japanese culture is rapidly slipping away.

I an American, not a Japanese, and while I love and embrace many things of Japanese society and culture, I will always be an American. But with globalization I see a trend for young people (especially) to try so hard to be “non-Japanese” and I worry about there becoming a “non-Japanese Japan.” Englishmen are Englishmen, Americans are Americans – there is nothing wrong with that. What is so wrong with being Japanese? We don’t expect Japanese people to be like us or us to be like them. It is one of the things that makes us all unique, makes Japanese unique, and makes the world a sometimes fun and interesting place. I think young Japanese people should enjoy being Japanese. This is from someone who is on the “outside” looking in. Sometimes I think (especially young people) are on the “inside” looking out, and forget to see themselves. Be yourself! It’s nice!

Lastly I am wondering, does it fall on people of my generation to teach again, how to be Japanese or to be the preservers of Japanese culture? Is that right or is it wrong? Is there a place for such people as myself, who studies the old ways and teaches the old ways, and practices the older arts, in Japan? Should fathers and mothers take the time to teach their children, or make it possible for their children to learn about what makes Japan a most unique place in the world?

I wonder.

Thoughts From A Takayama Rooftop

THOUGHTS FROM A TAKAYAMA ROOFTOP

Minna-san Konnichiwa!

Irasshaimase!

Thank you for visiting.

I began writing essays about Japanese art, culture, aesthetics, history, Budo, Bushido, and even politics several years ago. When placed on the Internet in the form of a blog, these essays (much to my surprise) grew immensely popular. But blog hosting sites come and go, things disappear or suddenly become inaccessible. As a consequence, we have had many requests both from long-time readers and new, to re-print the early essays and articles. To that end we have created this blog. We have also had numerous suggestions and requests to compile many of the articles, essays, poetry and stories into some sort of printed collection. To that end, we are working toward finding a solution.

I am a writer, artist, I hope sometimes a poet, and a teacher of several forms of martial arts and Budo. I have even been accused of being a humorist. We shall see! Often the source of what I write is not so much any particular muse, although if I had to name one, it would be my wife Aoi. Often my thoughts, ideas, coming from walking the streets lined with old shops and buildings, walking by the river, or just sitting up on the rooftop. Thus the title of this collection, “Thoughts from a Takayama Rooftop.”

I hope that you will visit us often as I try to discuss a variety of topics from Japanese art and culture, to Bushido, Asian philosophy, and even the weather and find enjoyment here.

-Tokugawa Hayato-
15 October 2008