[For seniors] Classic winter kigo. Compose a verse with your favorite seasonal word.

wintry wind

Haiku and the seasonal word “Kogarashi” [winter seasonal word]

A seasonal word that refers to the cold wind blowing from late autumn into early winter, named for the strong gusts that scatter the leaves from the trees.

When the dry wind sweeps through, the leaves of the roadside trees take to the air, unfolding a scene that seems to herald winter’s arrival.

Imagining leaf-strewn paths, a high, clear sky, and people walking while feeling the chill deepens the sense of the season.

While the sound of the wind carries a certain loneliness, it also conveys the poised beauty of winter’s air.

By composing while attuned to the wind’s sound and the changing scenery, one can express the presence of winter with striking vividness.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem

withered field

Haiku and the seasonal word 'Kareno' [Winter seasonal word]

As winter deepens, plants begin to look withered, don’t they? That scene is expressed as kare-no, or “withered fields,” and when used as a seasonal word in haiku, it conveys the harshness of winter—cold, stillness, and loneliness.

If we think of a famous haiku using kare-no, perhaps Matsuo Bashō comes to mind? While it depicts the chill and cold of winter, it also brings to mind the tender buds on trees preparing for spring.

If we weave such seasonal transitions into haiku, they can become words you can feel.

Please try composing a haiku that uses kare-no to foreshadow the arrival of spring.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

snow

Haiku and the seasonal word “snow” [Winter seasonal word]

When you think of winter, many of you probably picture snowy landscapes.

People say the world is warming, but even so, winter still brings snow to mind.

Some older adults may also have many memories of snow from their childhood or working years.

Haiku that use snow as a seasonal word can help conjure those memories, and from there, conversations can flow.

Depending on the situation—whether the snow is piling up or falling—you can compose haiku to fit a variety of scenes.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Winter wind

Haiku and the seasonal word “winter wind” [winter seasonal word]

A seasonal word that evokes the winter wind, which blows through carrying cold, dry air.

One can picture the sharp gusts that sting the cheeks, the sound of branches swaying, and the crystal-clear atmosphere stretching into the distance.

In haiku, combining it with images such as swirling fallen leaves, wind sweeping along sparsely traveled roads, or air so frigid it bites on winter mornings enriches the sense of season even further.

While winter winds suggest harshness, they also set off the clarity of the sky and the quiet scenery of towns.

It is a kigo that lets you savor the pleasure of rendering the season’s air into words as you feel the many expressions of winter’s nature.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem

chilled

Haiku and the seasonal word “tsumetashi” [winter seasonal word]

This is a winter kigo that expresses the chilly sensation felt when touching winter air, water, or wind.

By picturing familiar moments—the cold air of morning, the feel of water when washing your hands, the winter wind against your cheeks—the scene of a verse expands.

It conveys not just coldness but also the clarity of the air and the unique stillness of winter.

In haiku, combining sensations of hands and cheeks, the whiteness of one’s breath, and the coldness of winter water can richly evoke the season’s atmosphere.

By capturing the small, casual moments around you, winter scenes emerge more vividly.

Sensing the quiet beauty and crisp air within the cold as you compose can inspire a memorable verse, making this a kigo that sparks poetry.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem

early winter

[Haiku Stroll • No. 147] Early Winter (a winter season word). The charm of haiku lies in expressing the shift toward winter through color, sound, and everyday life ☺️

A season word that describes the time just before autumn ends and true winter begins.

It evokes scenes when the air feels crisp in the mornings and evenings, the leaves begin to fall, and the colors of the landscape gradually shift toward winter.

Though the cold is not yet severe, a quiet, calm atmosphere lingers—another hallmark of this period.

By depicting a morning path growing chilly, a garden with hints of frost, or distant sounds carried through clear air, one can express the turn of the seasons.

It is a season word that captures the transition while sensing the approach of winter.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem

the tenth month (Kannazuki), literally “Month Without Gods”

[Haiku Stroll • No. 214] Kannazuki (a winter season word) (1) Let’s learn season words! ~A bundle of medicinal herbs sways in Kannazuki~

A word that refers to the tenth month of the lunar calendar, when it is said that all the deities from across the country gather in Izumo, leaving other lands without their gods.

In haiku, it is often treated as an autumn seasonal word, and it also evokes a sense of clear air and the deepening of the season.

Envisioning scenes such as quiet towns after the deities have departed, cloudless skies, and landscapes nearing the end of autumn can open up a wider sense of atmosphere.

The calm ambiance of a shrine precinct and the sound of trees swaying in the wind also make fitting subjects for verses.

As the season advances, composing while sensing the quiet can lead to a verse with flavor; it is a seasonal word that broadens the imagination.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem