Winter Rain and No Hat ~ Haiku of Japan

Bashō here is expressing his indifference to the rain with a cheerful shrug. His message: I can't change the weather, so why let it affect me—it's all good.

When I go outside here in Japan or when I visit family or friends in the US, it seems like the number one complaint people have (and constantly express) is the weather. ugh, it's so hot. ugh, it's so cold. ugh, rain again. ugh, so windy today. And so on so forth.

We could all learn from Bashō’s example.

For you aspiring haiku poets: The kigo (nature word) here is shigure, which is the cold rain we get during the transition from autumn to winter. It is a kigo that has been used from the beginning of Japanese poetry, often featured in the classic waka of the Heian period. It recalls melancholic feelings is a symbol of the passing of events in the human life, even of the passing of life itself. In addition, the sound reminds of other white noise sounds, such as that of cicada buzzing, and in that way it can be enjoyed in and of itself. It is a kigo for early winter.

1. That is, me! If you like this translation, feel free to use it. Just credit me. Also link here if you can. ↩