俳句/Haiku

ホトトギスはカッコウの一種で、夏の季語の典型です。 ホトトギスは渡鳥ですが、この事実が知られるようになったのは、俳句の長い歴史に比べると最近のことです。東アジアで繁殖し、冬には東南アジアへ渡って行きます。また、日本には五月に訪れます。カッコウと同じように他の鳥の巣に卵を産むので、自分で巣を作ることはありません。 鳴き声は"トーキョー、トッキョ、キョカキョク"(東京特許許可局)と聞き做され、日本で最も有名な早口言葉になっています。 "Hototogisu" is a kind of bird that belongs to Cuculidae, and a model of the seasonal words in summer.  Hototogisu is a migratory bird. It is recently that this fact came to be known from a long history of haiku. They breed in east Asia, and go over southeast Asia in winter. Besides, they visit Japan in May. The birds lay their eggs in the nest of other birds the same as the cuckoo, so they don't make their own nest.  What the birds is singing is "tokyo tokkyo kyoka kyoku"(which means,"the Tokyo Patent Permission bureau"). It's the most famous tongue twister in Japan. 

衣更は季節に応じて衣服を変えることを指し、初夏を表す季語です。 往時の日本では、陰暦四月と十月の最初の日に、人々は衣装ダンスを入れ替えたものでしたが、それは宮中行事が起源でした。今でも多くの人がその伝統を継承していますが、かつてほど厳格に行われてはいません。現代では、おおむね五月中に衣装ダンスを冬物衣類から夏物に入れ替え、それを衣替と呼んでいて、人の衣類も気持ちも軽くさせてくれます。この時分が、日本では一年を通して最も過ごしやすいかもしれません。 The seasonal word "koromogae" refers to "the seasonal change of clothing", and denotes a early summer.  In ancient times of Japan, on the 1st day of the fourth and the tenth lunar months, people changed their wardrobes. It was originally an event of the Imperial Court. While many people continue with the tradition still now, it is not so strict as it used to be once. In these days, we change our wardrobe from winter wear to summer one in May on the whole, and we call it "koromogae". It makes our clothes and feelings lighter. These days might be the most delightful season in this country in the whole year.

"草笛"は英語で"reed"を指し、夏を表す季語です。 上手な奏者は、たいていの草や木の葉を草笛として使えますが、葦、大麦、椿の葉が日本では好まれます。彼らは口に葉を押し当てて、各々好きな曲を演奏します。たいてい甲高く響くその音色は、私たちに郷愁を感じさせるものです。今でも多くの熟達した奏者がいますが、多くはお年寄りです。年々奏者は数を減らしており、近い将来には季語の"草笛"だけが残ることになるかも知れません。 The seasonal word "kusabue" refers to "reed" in English, and denotes summer. It seems that clever players can use most grass or tree leaves as a "kusabue", but they prefer to use a leaf of reed, barley, and camellia in Japan. They hold such a leaf to their mouth, and play pieces each as they like. It always sounds quite high-pitched, and makes us feel something like nostalgia. There are skilled players even now, but a majority of them are old. With advancing years, players are going to dwindle in numbers. So, in the near future, only the seasonal word "kusabue" might be left.

"虹"は英語の"rainbow"を指し、夏を意味します。 日の光が背後から差し、水滴が待機中に浮遊している時、虹と呼ばれる色付いた円弧を空に見ることができます。虹は色を順序良く並べています。円弧の一番内側の部分は紫色で、一番外側は赤色をしています。虹が完全な姿を現した場合、紫の赤の間に、藍色、青色、緑色、黄色、オレンジ色の中間色を見ることができます。この元になる虹に加え、外側に二番目の円弧が見えることがあります。日本では二重虹と呼ばれ、虹の傍題の一つになっています。 The seasonal word "Niji" refers to "rainbow" in English, and denotes summer. We can see a colored arc "rainbow" in the sky when the sun shines from behind and drops of water are floating in the air. The arc arranges the colors in order. The most inner part of the arc is colored purple, and the most outer one is colored red. If the arc appears completely, we can see the intermediate colors, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange between purple and red. In addition to this original arc, we often see its second layer. Japanese call the doubled arc "hutae niji" as a subtitle of "niji".

山裾の木道軋む梅雨じめり a submontane boardwalk squeaks walking in the rainy season feel the damp air

薄暑はやや熱い陽気を表し、季語の一つです。初夏を表現します。 この季節、私たちは少し汗ばむ陽気になり、肌に触れる風が心地よいものです。その上、目には豊かな新緑が目に入ります。そうした日々が雨季がやって来るまで続きます。雨季は6月の後半に始まり、7月中に終えます。日本語で"ツユ"（梅雨）と呼ばれ、とても多湿になります。ですから薄暑の季節はそう長くは続かず終えます。梅雨が到来すると、この心地よい時節を惜しむものです。また、"梅雨"自体も季語の一つです。 / "Hakusho" refers to "weather that's a little bit hot" and is a seasonal word. It expresses the early summer.  In this season, the weather becomes hot enough to make us perspire, and the wind makes our skin feel pleasant. Moreover, we can see a wealth of new green. The days continue until the rainy season comes. The rainy season starts from the second half of June, and ends in July. It's called "tsuyu" in Japanese, and has very high humidity. So, the "hakusho" season lasts for just a brief period of time. We miss this comfortable season when "tsuyu" starts, and "tsuyu" itself is a seasonal word too.