it's a collection of 100 old 5 line japanese poems that are really easily digestible and really pretty. each one is written by a different author. it's interesting seeing how much the human experience remains the same even when compared to 1000 years ago.
3d ago
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ながながと川一筋や 雪の原
haikus are hard to translate accurately but its basically likening a river in the early dawn that cuts through fresh snowy plains to the initial stroke of ink on a blank piece of parchment having been written by the heavens
written by Banchō(凡兆), a student of the most established poet in Edo, Basho - Banchō was less serious than his peers and much like the characters in his name, he became 'mediocre'
Apr 8, 2025
In Japan, like in many other places, it’s common to write a will when preparing for death. But what makes Japanese culture unique is the tradition of also leaving behind a “farewell poem to life” (jisei). A practice that became deeply rooted and widely embraced.
Reading the last thoughts/last observations of those who lived long ago, right before they passed, is surreal. It really makes you wonder what your own last thoughts would be. What smells will be around you in your final hour? What sounds?
Such beautiful, yet simple poems immortalising their lives as their physical ones move on only moments after the poem was written.
Here are a few that have stuck with me so far:
Feb 10, 2025
i think of this poem pretty regularly, and the rest of her backlist is good too (linked it for you :) )
May 4, 2024
Top Recs from @nekoplatonist
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Growing up, my dad introduced me to a lot of European comics, especially Tintin and Asterix. I would spend whole days just going through volumes of Tintin. I spent a ton of time at the library as a kid too, and my local library had a pretty good manga section. Some of the mangas I liked as a kid I liked were the Pokemon Adventures manga, Rurouni Kenshin, and Ranma 1/2.
3d ago