And here is your daily almanac for Sunday, the seventh of April 2024.
Today, in 1945, the Yamato, Japan's greatest battleship and the most powerful battleship ever constructed, was sunk during World War II. It was built so large because the designers recognized that Japan would be unable to compete with the output of US naval shipyards, so it was designed to be capable of engaging multiple enemy battleships at the same time. Her final mission was to go to Okinawa and be beached to act as an unsinkable gun emplacement. The Allies, however, intercepted and decoded transmissions about this mission and were able to sink the ship before she made it to Okinawa.
Today is the birth of Francis Xavier in 1506, whose later mission to Japan would leave a lasting impact on the country, introducing Christianity and influencing Japanese society in profound ways. If you are watching the recent Shogūn series on TV (or remember the original), you may remember his name as Ferreira which is what the novel and series rename him.
In 1963, the first of the long running Taiga dramas, "Hana no Shogai," (花の生涯) began, captivating audiences with the dramatization of historical figures and events and enriching Japan's cultural tapestry through television. This first drama was about Ii Naosuke, a very interesting historic figure who might be most well-known for signing the Harris Treaty with the US, an act that led to his assassination. The Taiga dramas continue to be shown annually and remain very popular.
Finally, today in 1926, Ozaki Hōsai died. Hōsai was an important figure in the free-verse haiku movement. A difficult life led him to join monastic life where he was placed in care of an isolated temple Saiko-ji on the island of Shōdoshima. He lived out the rest of his life in extreme loneliness, which he reflected in his haiku. Today his haiku are celebrated for their simplicity and depth, capturing fleeting moments of natural beauty and human emotion.
Sparrows Above Snow Covered Plum Tree - Koson
Today is Shakkō (赤口) in the Buddhist horoscope. This suggests a day of mixed fortunes, where most of the day is bad luck, but the Hour of the Horse (11am – 1pm) is lucky. Red things should be avoided on this day. (Read more about the rokuyō here)
On the old calendar, today would have been the twenty-ninth day of the second month. We find ourselves within Seimei (清明), the time of clear and bright, and the microseason Genchō shi (玄鳥至), when the swallows return. This period symbolizes renewal and the rejuvenation of the earth.
Sparrows - Shizuo Ashikaga
Here's a haiku from Hōsai:
雀のあたたかさを握るはなしてやる 放哉
suzume no atatakasa o nigiru hanashite yaru
feeling the warmth of a sparrow in my hand
I let it go
—Hōsai
Ohara Koson - Sparrow on Plum Branch
The act of releasing the sparrow can be read as a metaphor for non-attachment and the transient nature of experiences and life itself. In Japanese aesthetics, there's often an appreciation for the beauty of ephemeral moments, as embodied in the concept of mono no aware (the pathos of things), which this haiku subtly touches upon. Even in his otherwise loneliness, Hōsai reflects on the importance of not holding on to things, despite their warmth or comfort.
As we commemorate the historical events of April 7th and remember the gentle observations of Ozaki Hosai, let's embrace the lessons of renewal, reflection, and the delicate balance of life.
Be well, do good work, and stay in touch.
❦
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David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Twitter or Mastodon. |
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I still haven't started Shogun yet. I'm not sure when that will happen.
Ah Jaapnese painters!
We were just discussing yesterday that Van Gogh was influenced a lot by Japanese paper painters. He had seen these on packing materials I believe. Can't ask him anymore....
Great post. I didn't remember they had sunk that ship before it reached Okinawa. Very interesting history. I've always wanted to visit Okinawa, I understand it's a beautiful place.
I agree it's important to balance life and appreciate all that we have. Life if far to finite, having come close to death in the past I am very quick to embrace that fact.
Beautiful