[For Seniors] Winter Haiku: Introducing Beautiful Masterpieces by Famous Haiku Poets
Haiku have a unique depth of flavor that belongs to the winter season.
From the cold moon and the first winter showers to the soft fall of snow, there are countless famous verses that richly capture these scenes.
For older readers in particular, encountering haiku filled with nostalgic landscapes and memories can warm and soothe the heart.
This time, we will introduce winter haiku composed by Japan’s leading poets, such as Matsuo Bashō and Yosa Buson.
We have carefully selected beautiful verses that conjure vivid scenes the moment you close your eyes.
Why not relax and immerse yourself in the world of haiku, while also noting the playful expressions and turns of phrase?
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[For Seniors] Winter Haiku: Introducing Beautiful Masterpieces by Famous Haiku Poets (71–80)
Winter’s withering wind—shadows of snow run across the open plainOgai Mori
This is a verse that sings of the season when the cold north wind heralds the arrival of winter.
“Hirono” means an expansive, open field, evoking the force of the wintry wind sweeping across it.
“Yuki no kage” refers to the sight of snow skimming the sky as it dances— not yet enough to accumulate, but fluttering flakes that, carried by the wind, seem to race along.
Within the cold, the poem conveys the movement of nature and the beauty of winter.
In November, as late autumn turns to early winter, you can quietly savor the chill and stillness of the changing season.
Eight children, harmoniously together—ChristmasMasaoka Shiki
This is a haiku by Masaoka Shiki that captures the bustle of Christmas in December and the warmth of home.
“Hachinin no kodomo mutsumashi” describes many children happily getting along together.
“Mutsumashi” means a harmonious, friendly state, and from the children’s innocence and smiles one can feel the happiness of the family.
The seasonal word “Christmas” highlights the cozy family atmosphere even amid the chill of winter.
Shiki likely imbued the scene of frolicking children and peaceful time with a straightforward, affectionate gaze.
It evokes a December household filled with smiles and kindness.
December — north of Ueno is quiet.Masaoka Shiki
December is known as shiwasu, the final month of the year.
True to its name, this season carries a certain bustle.
Masaoka Shiki felt it too, and composed the haiku: “December—north of Ueno, all is quiet.” At the time, Shiki lived in Negishi, north of Ueno, and he contrasted the lively clamor of Ueno with the tranquility of his own surroundings.
Confined to his sickbed, he could not join the bustle of Ueno; while quietly accepting his illness, he must also have felt a tinge of loneliness.
[For Seniors] Winter Haiku: Introducing Beautiful Masterpieces by Famous Haiku Poets (81–90)
Moonlit shadows—outside, the Tenth Night, scarcely a soul passing by.Masaoka Shiki
This is a haiku by Masaoka Shiki that contemplates the quiet of a late autumn night and the flow of human life.
“Jūya” refers to a Buddhist observance held in November, an event where people visit temples.
On a night softly lit by the moon, people are passing outside on their way to this “Jūya.” Though Shiki was living with illness, he gazed at this tranquil scene from his room, perhaps contrasting the movement of the world with his own stillness.
The word “tsukikage” (moonlight) carries feelings that are gentle yet fleeting.
It is a deeply moving verse that evokes, on a clear November moonlit night, the warmth of human faith and the quiet of life.
Out-of-season blossoms—how moving they are, the mountain cherry.Akiko Mizuhara
A single verse composed by Mizuhara Shuoshi as he gazed at a mountain cherry quietly blooming in the calm of late autumn.
Kaeribana refers to flowers that bloom again after their proper season has passed.
Seeing a mountain cherry on a November mountainside blooming as if it were spring, Shuoshi was surely moved by the strangeness and transience of the seasons.
In the phrase “michite aware ya,” there is not only an appreciation of the flower’s beauty, but also a deep, poignant feeling for the passage of time and the fragility of life.
In a quiet mountain in late autumn, this evokes a gentle warmth—joy and wistfulness at encountering an out-of-season blossom.
Handmade candleholders and ChristmasHōsaku Shinohara
A haiku by Shinohara Hōsaku composed while feeling the preparations for winter in December and the warmth of home.
The “handmade candlestick” refers to a candlestick crafted at home by one’s own hands.
You can sense the heartwarming spirit of preparing for Christmas with ingenuity, made by family or oneself.
From the word “Christmas,” we sense the gentle light of winter nights, hope, and the pleasures that brighten the heart.
Hōsaku may have cherished the small happiness of everyday life and the joy of ingenuity through seasonal events.
It is a verse that evokes the light and warmth inside the home on a cold day in December, leaving us with a gentle feeling.
The paulownia seeds have sounded forth—winter preparations.Fuji-o Shiba
A verse by Shiba Bukio that senses the shift in nature from late autumn to early winter.
“Kiri no mi no nari ide ni keri” depicts the sound of paulownia pods ripening and falling.
Hearing that sound made him realize it was time to prepare for winter.
“Fuyugamae” refers to readying one’s home and garden against the cold.
From the small change in nature—the sound of paulownia pods dropping—Shiba Bukio felt the deepening of the season and the intimate link between life and nature.
On a quiet day in November, it is a gentle, calm poem that quietly accepts winter’s approach.