[Winter Haiku] A collection of poems composed by junior high school students: a beautiful and amusing anthology that vividly evokes scenes

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.

Have you ever found your hand pausing when you try to write a winter haiku? For middle school students, crafting a haiku that conveys feelings in just a few words using seasonal words (kigo) can feel quite challenging.

But winter is full of moments that move the heart—crisp air, visible white breath, the New Year atmosphere, and more.

In this article, we’ll introduce example poems that can inspire middle schoolers and tips on how to use seasonal words.

Try expressing, in your own words, the feelings you had this winter or your happy memories—haiku can be written casually.

The content will also be useful for class assignments and homework, so please make good use of it!

[Winter Haiku] A collection of poems composed by junior high school students. A beautiful and interesting anthology that vividly evokes scenes (11–20)

New Year’s gift money, like the snow, has melted away.

Have you ever had the experience of getting New Year’s gift money and then overspending because you felt flush? In this haiku, the poet links snow and New Year’s money with the word “melt.” In other words, just like snow that quickly melts away, the gift money you received disappears in no time.

When we come into some money, it’s easy to want to buy this and that, but that’s exactly when you should pause and ask yourself whether you truly want it and whether you really need it.

It’s also a good idea to save so you can use the money when you really need it.

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New Year’s—so many relatives, it’s a lively bustle

At New Year’s, many families probably have all their relatives gather and make a lively ruckus, don’t they? It’s a happy time—chatting about last year’s events while eating delicious osechi and ozoni, and the children receiving New Year’s gifts from everyone.

This haiku, in simple words, evokes the cheerful, bustling joy of the New Year.

The seasonal word, of course, is “New Year.” Let’s all begin the New Year—the start of another year—with smiles, just like in this haiku!

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My path in life—still undecided—winter galaxy.

“Winter Milky Way” is a winter season word that refers to the period from the first day of winter to the day before the first day of spring, and it points to the Milky Way as seen in the clear winter night sky.

Perhaps this is a haiku composed by a student preparing for high school entrance exams.

Many schools begin accepting applications around December and hold exams around January, don’t they? On the eve of that season, it conveys the anxiety, wistfulness, and confusion of still being unable to decide one’s path.

The winter night sky stretches boundlessly, with small yet shining stars.

Beneath that starry sky live many people, each grappling with their own worries.

Somehow, one’s own troubles start to feel small.

And yet, because it’s an important decision about one’s future, it’s hard to choose.

Such inner conflict seems to come through.

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New Year’s Day—good taste of osechi, good omens.

Osechi is a lucky New Year’s dish.

It’s one of the essentials when families gather around the table on New Year’s Day.

Herring roe (kazunoko) for prayers for prosperity of descendants, sweet chestnut paste (kurikinton) for better fortune, and black soybeans (kuromame) to ward off evil and wish for good health—most of you have probably tasted them at least once.

This haiku takes osechi, such an auspicious food, as its theme.

When the osechi tastes good, it feels like your luck will rise too, and it’s wonderful when the start of the year is filled with that kind of joy.

As you reflect on the meanings of osechi, please enjoy a happy New Year’s meal.

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On snowy days, even Tokyo is a land of snow.

When we think of winter’s hallmarks, snow comes to mind.

Snow is often used as a seasonal word for winter in haiku.

In Japan, the Tohoku region, Hokkaido, and the Sea of Japan side get a lot of snowfall, and in some areas it can pile up to around two meters.

Compared to these snowy regions, Tokyo tends to have less frequent and lighter snowfall.

This verse, however, describes Tokyo—as not a snow country—as if it were one.

Perhaps that year was exceptionally cold with heavy snow.

You can sense the excitement stirred by a scene people aren’t usually accustomed to seeing.

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In conclusion

Haiku that weave winter scenes into words offer a valuable chance for junior high school students to rediscover the beauty of the Japanese language. Try capturing season-specific experiences—like the biting air, white breaths, or New Year’s scenes—in the 5-7-5 rhythm. A fleeting winter moment, framed from your own unique perspective, is sure to become a verse that resonates in the heart.