Flown petal

(April 9) I had wanted to join the Yoshino event and had a plan to visit the Kansai area around that time, but my schedule didn’t allow. Living in Shikoku, I often drive through deep mountainsides between Matsuyama and Imabari. On one such day, when I saw cherry blossoms in full bloom here and there in the mountains, I yearned for the Yoshino haike.

Deep in Shikoku

I drive amidst the blossoms

Warping toward Yoshino

(April 13) Once in Kansai, I travelled to Kyoto one evening after work, hoping to glance at the cherry blossoms. It was raining, occasionally downpouring, and didn’t stop till night. But Entokuin, where Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s wife stayed for the final part of her life, is a breathtakingly beautiful space, and it was made all the more so by the rain. This garden features a dry pond. On that day, it had real water in it, though, because of the heavy rain. A guide there said this was most uncommon.

Garden of Nene -

Her imagined pond filled

With spring night rain

The guide continued, “This tree in front of us was totally naked until a few days ago and I had to explain to people that it was a maple. But, see, now it’s all light green with shoots!”

An invisible tree -

Fresh leaves came into bud

In two nights

(April 22) Back in Shikoku, I tried to write for the Icebox, but an urgent job rushed in. I had to translate thirty pages of a yakiniku menu, and my brain became utterly filled with Korean barbecue terms.

Spring messenger bird,

Smell of grilled meat wafts through

The cherry blossom-viewing

(May 5) Finally I got some time to relax during Golden Week, when intentionally I didn’t go anywhere. That was when I found the Yoshino report, Walking on Petals and Cloud.

Just roam on the net:

How easily I can join

The pleasant gathering