Natsume Soseki

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Natsume Soseki 夏目漱石
Natsume Sooseki, Natsume Sōseki

February 9, 1867 – December 9, 1916



Born Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目 金之助), he is widely considered to be the foremost Japanese novelist of the Meiji period (1868–1912). He is best known for his novels Kokoro, Botchan, I Am a Cat and his unfinished work Light and Darkness. He was also a scholar of British literature and composer of haiku, Chinese-style poetry, and fairy tales. From 1984 until 2004, his portrait appeared on the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note.
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1000 yen　　1000円札

Wagahai wa neko de aru 吾輩は猫である
Botchan　ぼちゃん

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Sooseki Ki 漱石忌 (そうせきき)
Soseki Memorial Day

kigo for mid-winter

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君が代や年々に減る厄払
waga dai ya nennen ni heru yakubarai

people of my age -
with the passing of years
less impurities to cleanse


. WKD : yakubarai 厄払 Casting off the Old Impurities and Sins .

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The famous novel "Botchan" by Natsume Soseki takes place in Matsuyama, where he lived with Masaoka Shiki for a while.

Soseki Natsume who participated in the haiku parties convened by Shiki, etc. left several haikus such as
"A long day, we pass yawns and depart."

. Soseki and Masaoka Shiki .



When Natsume Soseki came to visit Masaoka Shiki in Matsuyma in 1892, Shiki's mother Yae prepared the dish for them.
Kyoshi, who happened to be there too, wrote about this meeting, describing Soseki sitting in his western suit on the cushion, trying to eat carefully so as not to soil his suit and the floor and finishing every little grain of rice.



. Matsuyama sushi 松山すし and poetry .


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kane tsukeba ichoo chiru nari Kenchooji

kaki kueba kane ga naru nari Hooryuuji


when they strike the bell
these gingko leaves are falling -
Temple Kencho-ji
Soseki


when I eat a persimmon
this bell reveberates -
Temple Horyu-ji
Shiki

. Two friends, two haiku - Honkadori　本歌取り .


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行く我にとゞまる汝に秋二つ
yuku ware ni todomaru nare ni aki futatsu

for me going
for you staying here
two autumns

for Natsume Soseki staying in Matsuyama, when Masaoka Shiki left for Tokyo.

tr. by University of Virginia Team

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春立つや子規より手紙漱石へ
haru tatsu ya Shiki yori tegami Sooseki e

spring starts -
a letter from Shiki
to Soseki
Tr. Fay Aoyagi

Enomoto Yoshihiro 榎本好宏


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かたまるや散るや蛍の川の上
katamaru ya chiru ya hotaru no kawa no ue

Now gathering,
Now scattering,
Fireflies over the river.
Tr. Sooiku Shigematsu


Discussion of this haiku:
. Fireflies and the river Seta .


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瀑五段一段毎の紅葉かな
baku godan ichidan goto no momiji kana

five-tired waterfall -
on each tire there are
red maple leaves

Karakai no Taki 唐岬の滝 near Matsuyama

. WKD : Waterfall .


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元日に生れぬ先の親恋し
ganjitsu ni umarenu saki no oya koishi

on New Year's Day
I long for my parents
before I was born


The "original face" points to "the nonduality of subject and object"
. The Original face .

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立秋の紺落ち付くや伊予絣
risshuu no kon ochitsuku ya Iyogasuri

the dark blue
is relaxing at the beginning of autumn -
ikat from Iyo

. Kasuri 伊予絣 Ikat from Iyo .


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kogarashi no ima ya fuku tomo chiru ha nashi

Bitter winter wind --
blowing now
yet no leaves to drop.
Tr. Haiku International Association


. kogarashi　木枯らし, 木枯, 凩 withering wind .


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mokuren no hana bakari naru sora o miru

the sky I see
seems full of
magnolia blossoms


voll von Magnolienblueten
der Himmel
in den ich schau

from Kusamakura 草枕



. Kusamakura 草枕 - Matsuo Basho und Soseki . 　


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aritake no kiku nageire yo kan no naka

All the chrysanthemums that there are; lay them in the coffin

Discussion by Hugh Bygott

his tribute to Madame Naoko Otsuka

source : translating haiku forum


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On New Year's Day
I long to meet my parents
as they were before my birth.

source : www.haikusociety.com

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kawabaori furumekashitaru samusa kana

. kawabaori 皮羽織 leather haori coat .



More haiku by Soseki
. Reference 夏目漱石　俳句 .


my haiku translated by Soseki


Japanese Reference

夏目漱石

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- quote -
“Master Soseki”
by Ippei Okamoto depicts writer Natsume Soseki
with a black cat and "hibachi" brazier. (Hiromi Kitagaki)

The mystery remains on how the long-established Hiiragiya inn in Kyoto obtained a portrait of literary master Natsume Soseki created by manga artist Ippei Okamoto (1886-1948).

But the artwork is viewed as an invaluable piece for studying the connection between Soseki (1867-1916) and Japan’s ancient capital.

The drawing, titled “Master Soseki,” appears to be an original piece in a collection created and distributed at the beginning of the Showa Era (1926-1989) by Tokyo Manga Kai and its successor, Nihon Manga Kai, according to Yoshiteru Nakayama, a 76-year-old former curator of the Kyoto Prefectural Library and Archives.

Okamoto apparently drew several of the same portraits of Soseki. A drawing of identical composition to the one at Hiiragiya is kept at the Tohoku University Library.
- source : ajw.asahi.com


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Related words

***** Introducing Japanese Haiku Poets　


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botchan ningyoo 坊ちゃん人形 "Botchan" dolls



at Dogo Onsen hot spring, in memory of the novel


. Ehime Folk Art -　愛媛県　 .


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