芥川龍之介
Akutagawa's Haiku Works
Tsuchiya Kōitsu - Evening at Ushigome 1939
Ushigome was within present-day Shinjuku Ward
Ushigome was within present-day Shinjuku Ward
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa [1892-1927] was one of the most prominent story writers in modern Japan. His most famous work outside Japan, if any, would be 'Rashōmon', for its film adaptation made by Akira Kurosawa (The plot of the film was taken from another novel of Akutagawa, 'In a Grove', but the Rashomon itself, the south gate of the Heian-kyō Capital, present-day Kyōto, appeared in the movie.)
As a short story writer, Akutagawa is typically known for his short novels which depict delicate psychological intricacies in historical backgrounds, such as the above-mentioned 'Rashōmon' and 'In a Grove'. The historical period in which these stories take place was the Heian period [794-1185], which is known for its sophisticated aristocratic culture, and many important female writers of the court.
Among novelists of modern japan, only a few were also celebrated as haiku poets - and in that too, Akutagawa was one of the best, alongside his master colleague Sōseki Natsume. In 1916 Akutagawa was praised by Sōseki for another of his short stories taking place in the Heian period, 'The Nose'. This evaluation is said to have determined and promised Akutagawa's position as a popular writer. It was the last year of Sōseki's life, and Akutagawa had joined weekly open meetings at Sōseki's house one year before, and made an acquaintance of him.
Eventually, however, he became weary with a nervous breakdown and various sicknesses, along with family and economic problems, and began frequently using sleeping pills. The world has a long list of creators and thinkers who decided to take their own life, none the less when Akutagawa added his name to that list, at 35 years, I'd say it was much too early. It was 99 years after another illustrious haiku poet, Issa Kobayashi [1763-1828] died at his 64.
The haiku poet Dakotsu Īda and Akutagawa respected each other in haiku. Not knowing that they were made by Akutagawa, Dakotsu praised his haiku works, which were made under a pseudonym. For Akutagawa's part, he had followed carefully the works of Dakotsu and emulated him. Later on they became friends and began exchanging letters. Dakotsu made this haiku after Akutagawa passed away, dedicated to him:
With deepest sympathy on Ryunosuke Akutagawa's death
Human souls -
They're like, for example,
Fireflies of the fall.
たましひのたとへば秋のほたるかな
飯田蛇笏
Tamashī no / Tatoeba aki no / Hotaru kana
Īda Dakotsu
Haiku works of Akutagawa
Original text, with modern Japanese and English translations
1.
O tree frog!
Are you too perhaps,
freshly painted?
(Season word: tree frog - summer)
青蛙おのれもペンキぬりたてか
Aogaeru / Onore mo / Penki nuritate ka青蛙よ、
おまえももしかして、
『ペンキ塗りたて』かい？
2.
Wintry wind -
Color of the sea remaining
In dried sardines.
(Season word: wintry wind - winter)
木がらしや目刺にのこる海のいろ
kogarashi ya / Mezahi ni nokoru / Umi no iro
木枯らしが吹いている。
目刺しのイワシを見ていると、
まだ海の色がそこに息づいているようだ。
3.
Today's heat -
Resembing a metal spring,
Butterfly's tongue.
(Season word: heat - summer)
蝶の舌ゼンマイに似る暑さかな
Chō no shita / Zenmai ni niru / Atsusa kana
そういえば蝶の口は、
機械のゼンマイに似ているな。
今日も暑いことだ。
4.
Wintry wind -
Where there is the sun
In the Tokyo sky.
(Season word: wintry wind - winter)
木がらしや東京の日のありどころ
Kogarashi ya / Tōkyō no hi no / Aridokoro
木枯らしが吹いている。
この東京の空の、
いまはどこに太陽があるだろう。
5.
木枯らしが吹いている。
この東京の空の、
いまはどこに太陽があるだろう。
5.
New Year's Day -
Evening sentiment while
Washing my hands.
(Season word: new years day - New Year)
元日や手を洗ひ居る夕心
Ganjitsu ya / Te o araioru / Yū gokoro
きょうは元日、
手を洗っているうちにも、
夕方の情趣が心にしみいってくる。
6.
Only my watering nose
Remains red at the tip.
(Season word: runny nose - winter)
水涕や鼻の先だけ暮れ殘る
Mizu hana ya / Hana no saki dake / Kurenokoru鼻水が出るよ。
鼻先だけ赤く染まって、
まるで暮れ方の空のようだ。
Model of a reconstruction of the Heian capital
with the Rashōmon gate
with the Rashōmon gate
Text and translation by Yamatologos 2018 with the help of Forest Muran
