Makes you want to compose a haiku! A roundup of commonly used autumn kigo (seasonal words)
Don’t you sometimes feel the arrival of autumn in the crystal-clear sky and the slightly cool breeze?Haiku, which weave everyday, subtle changes into words, enrich our hearts.Yet when it comes time to compose a verse, you may often find yourself unsure which words to choose.In this article, we introduce common autumn kigo that are easy to incorporate into haiku.It’s full of seasonal words—about plants, flowers, and living creatures—that can inspire your expressions!Use this article as a guide and try composing your own lovely autumn verse.
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Makes you want to compose a haiku! A roundup of commonly used autumn kigo (seasonal words) (1–10)
Pacific sauryNEW!
Sanma, the quintessential taste of autumn.
Its slender body gleams silver, and when grilled, the rich fat sizzles and releases a savory, mouthwatering aroma.
From the kitchen at dusk, that scent drifting with a wisp of smoke lets you feel the deepening of the season.
Sanma doesn’t just delight the palate; every time you pick it up, it brings back the richness of autumn life and the joy of savoring the season.
Put “sanma” into a haiku, and instead of bustle or liveliness, a gentle sense of autumn’s everyday charm and warmth rises to the surface.
You can almost hear it searing, smell the aroma, and picture the hand reaching out with chopsticks—so do try weaving it in.
insectNEW!
Small lives like bell crickets and pine crickets, gently singing on autumn nights.
When you say “mushi naku ya,” you can sense a sound that comes to you in the stillness when the surrounding noise suddenly falls away.
The sounds that had reached your ears just moments before vanish, and within that soft margin where everything settles into hush, a new sound is born.
When you weave “insects” into a haiku, the moment of sound and the silence after the sound has passed are set in contrast, giving the scene depth.
It will likely become a verse that quietly permeates the reader’s heart with the gentle time that follows the fading of sound.
red dragonflyNEW!
Some people may feel the arrival of autumn when they see red dragonflies in flight.
“Red dragonfly” is used as a seasonal word for the three months of autumn, and poets such as Kobayashi Issa and Masaoka Shiki have composed haiku using it as a kigo.
In recent years, even when red dragonflies are flying, the prevailing image of autumn is that it’s still quite hot; nonetheless, it can be nice to compose a verse that captures this glimpse of autumn found amid the heat.
It’s also recommended to try writing haiku with your child, using memories of catching or spotting red dragonflies as the theme.
Makes you want to compose a haiku! A roundup of commonly used autumn kigo (11–20)
cosmosNEW!
The cosmos, with their cute blossoms swaying in the wind, bring with them a gentle, tranquil sense of the season.
The way the flowers at the tips of their slender stems sway softly in the autumn breeze is enough to make your heart unwind just by watching.
Their pale hues spreading across fields and roadsides are never too showy, evoking a quiet beauty.
Add the word “cosmos” to a haiku, and you can almost feel the soft wind and the unhurried passage of time; a comforting scene unfolds within the poet as well.
Try weaving them into haiku about small autumn moments—those instants when you pause to gaze, or the calm time spent looking together with someone by your side.
IzayoiNEW!
This word expresses the charm of the moon that rises the day after the full moon, appearing a little later.
Showing itself slowly, as if hesitant, that moon holds a gentle, moist beauty different from the full moon’s.
The moments of quietly looking up at the sky in the clear night air as you wait, and the sense of relief when the light finally appears, are also folded into this word.
A delicate scene emerges—one that attends to the unhurried flow of time and to subtle changes.
By adding the quiet of night and the feeling of waiting for the moon, you can shape a refined line with lingering resonance.
RefreshingNEW!
It’s a seasonal word that evokes crystal-clear air, a light breeze, and a comfort that seems to brighten the heart.
As summer’s muggy heat recedes and a cool wind gently strokes your cheeks in the mornings and evenings, you can’t help but want to take a deep breath—this is the perfect word for that moment.
It also pairs well with scenes of a high, open blue sky, grasses and flowers swaying in a crisp, dry wind, and a quiet, transparent atmosphere.
When you include “refreshing” in a haiku, a light, unburdened scene comes into view, leaving a lingering impression as if a pure breeze were passing through the reader’s chest.
For example, why not add it to a familiar vignette—the morning road that makes you want to start walking, or the air the moment you open a window?
autumn eggplantNEW!
This seasonal word evokes the unique abundance of harvest time and the warm presence that gathers around the table.
Autumn eggplants, with their glossy purple skins drawn tight, are deeper in flavor than their summer counterparts; when you take a bite, a gentle savor spreads through your mouth.
They call to mind the feel of harvesting in the field and even the sounds and aromas of cooking in the kitchen, conjuring a somehow nostalgic scene.
When you weave “autumn eggplant” into a haiku, a simple, friendly moment of fall naturally comes into view, and the warmth of everyday life can be felt in the verse.
Linked with preparing dinner, steaming dishes, or the presence of family, it will leave a faint warmth in the poet’s own heart as well.