![[For General Readers] List of Summer Kigo: Evocative Everyday Words of Summer](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/z9BpA4BP5lM/maxresdefault.webp)
Have you ever struggled to come up with the right seasonal word when composing a haiku? Summer in particular is a season where it’s easy to get confused, since there are so many symbols and traditions.
A fun summer vacation, heat that won’t stop the sweat, refreshing foods…
In fact, hints for summer kigo are everywhere in everyday scenes.
In this article, we introduce summer kigo for general use.
We’ve gathered many words that are easy for beginner haiku poets to incorporate.
When a summer scene makes you want to write a verse, please refer to the kigo we’ve introduced.
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- [For Middle School Students] Also Helpful for Haiku Writing! A Collection of Famous Haiku Using Spring Seasonal Words
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[For General Readers] List of Summer Seasonal Words: Evocative Everyday Terms of Summer (1–10)
sunflowerNEW!
The sunflower is one of the flowers that symbolize summer, and of course it’s a seasonal word for summer.
Written in kanji as “向日葵,” it was given this name because it blooms while following the sun.
Because of that, it gives an impression of vitality and positivity.
Its flower language meanings are “admiration” and “I only have eyes for you.” With their impactful height of about two meters, their sun-seeking behavior, and the sight of vast sunflower fields, just the word “sunflower” may bring to mind a variety of scenes and memories.
ice creamNEW!
Ice cream is sold year-round, but it probably tastes best when you eat it in the summer.
Ice enjoyed while your body feels flushed is a kind of comfort, isn’t it? Just letting a cool spoonful of ice cream melt in your mouth makes you feel like your body temperature drops.
If you let your imagination roam—to the look and flavor, the way it melts, ice cream shops, and so on—you could come up with all kinds of haiku.
It’s also lovely how seasonal words can bring back memories, like the atmosphere of summer or recollections from childhood.
RamuneNEW!
Ramune, the crystal-clear, fizzy drink with an irresistible refreshing pop.
Just picking one up at a summer festival stall makes your heart skip a beat—the shape of the glass bottle and the marble stopper excite both kids and adults.
The satisfying “pop” when you press the marble to open it, and the sight of the bubbles dancing up, offer a small delight that makes you forget the summer heat.
Take a sip of well-chilled Ramune and its brisk fizz cools you from within, giving you a boost even on scorching days.
Enjoy it while imagining the lively voices of the stalls and people in yukata, and you’ll feel the poetic charm of a true summer tradition.
Its look and taste both embody the essence of summer, making it a perfect seasonal word for the season.
clear early-summer sky (in May)NEW!
The seasonal word “satsuki-bare” refers to the clear, refreshing skies seen during breaks in the rainy season or in early summer.
When blue skies suddenly spread after days of rain, it can feel as if the heavy clouds have lifted and even your heart grows lighter.
Thinking of such a scene brings to mind a fresh, breezy image—like in this verse—of someone walking with a brand-new travel bag.
Inside the bag are tightly packed plans and excitement for the journeys ahead, and as you walk beneath the satsuki-bare sky, both the heavens and your heart seem to grow ever clearer.
Under the brilliant sky that gently announces the coming of summer, why not try composing a verse of your own?
summer vacationNEW!
Summer vacation, something children look forward to, is one of the quintessential summer season words.
It refers to the period from late July to the end of August.
The term “summer vacation” conjures up all kinds of fun times—homework, family trips, the sea, summer festivals, and more.
It’s an easy kigo to use in haiku, but because it can lead to clichéd pieces, try to be inventive so your work has originality.
Recall what kinds of summer vacations you spent as a child, and craft a lovely haiku.
rainy season (tsuyu)NEW!
The rainy season, known as tsuyu, is considered a mid-summer seasonal word.
Speaking of tsuyu, it’s June—there’s always this rainy period before the real summer arrives.
The seasonal word tsuyu refers not only to the time when it rains frequently, but also to the season when plum fruits ripen.
For plums, it may well be a life-giving rain.
For people, it’s a time when the constant rain can dampen the spirits, but hydrangeas bloom beautifully, and if you close your eyes and listen to the sound of the rain, it can be quite relaxing.
It can also be a good time to enjoy staying at home.
sweatNEW!
An idea for “sweat” that’s striking, with droplets shimmering in the strong sunlight.
The way it trails down the forehead and nape looks like tiny beads of water catching the light, as if reflecting the very heat of summer.
The sweat you feel after moving your body outdoors or walking under the blazing sun conveys the season’s vigor and the lively air.
Those moments of dabbing away sweat while resting in the shade with a breeze, or feeling relieved by a cold drink, are summertime comforts.
Within the flowing sweat, you can sense the refreshing exhilaration and satisfaction that come after effort.
By all means, try composing verses about the flavors of summer in your everyday life through the lens of “sweat.”