〜First day of the last month of the year 乙子の正月〜

Today is December 1st and, of course, December is the last month, so you could refer to it as the youngest child and so today marks the New Year of the youngest.  My grandfather on my mother’s side used to talk about this “New Year of the youngest child”.  However, I don’t recall what kind of food he prepared to celebrate the day.  I only thought of buying mochi or rice cakes at a neighborhood grocery store.  For, we Japanese often relate the food with festive occasions.  I am certain my grandfather didn’t buy them but instead he made them himself, though.

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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like me to write, please let me know by sending it (them) to my address, chio_art@yushokai.com

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今日は12月1日で、12月は最後の月だから「末っ子の月」と考えられます。それで今日は末っ子の元日で、母方の祖父がよくこの「乙子の正月(末っ子の正月)」を言っていたと思います。けれども、どういう食べ物などでどういうふうに祝っていたのかは覚えていません。とりあえず、近所のスーパーでお餅を買ってきました。祖父は買わないで作ったでしょうけれど。

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さて、私の書で見てみたいと思われるお好きな字や、言葉などがありましたら、chio_art@yushokai.com宛にお教えください。

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Star draws nigh to the treetop/

O, the month of December/

Calligraphy and translation by Chio

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〜Right after the rain  金木犀〜

About this time of year, my late mother used to say she loved orange osmanthus blossoms.  She often said that before you know it, its fragrance was all around you and then you found the tree after noticing its fragrance.  In short, she loved its unassumingness.

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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like me to write, please let me know by sending it (them) to my address, chio_art@yushokai.com

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母が、この時期になると金木犀が好きだと言っていました。そこにあるとは気づかないうちに香りは香っているので、見回すとその木がそこにあるというその控えめさが好きだったそうです。

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さて、私の書で見てみたいと思われるお好きな字や、言葉などがありましたら、chio_art@yushokai.com宛にお教えください。

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Fine weather after the rain/

Heavy is the/

Fragrance of orange osmanthus/

Calligraphy and translation by Chio

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〜First day of winter  今は、もう冬〜

According to the lunar calendar, today falls on the first day of winter.  I think I must try and devote myself to calligraphy with a tranquil mind as this haiku implies.

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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like me to write, please let me know by sending it (them) to my address, chio_art@yushokai.com

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旧暦では今日は立冬です。この句のように心静かに書に向かえるように頑張らねば。

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さて、私の書で見てみたいと思われるお好きな字や、言葉などがありましたら、chio_art@yushokai.com宛にお教えください。

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With a tranquil mind/

Grinding an inkstick/

Beginning of winter/

Calligraphy and translation by Chio

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〜Haiku and copying practice 秋の雲〜

This isn’t my original work but one result of my copying practice of my teacher’s calligraphy.  The other photo shows the sky in Kyoto yesterday and I thought this haiku is about this season.

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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like me to write, please let me know by sending it (them) to my address, chio_art@yushokai.com

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これは私のオリジナルではありません。先生の書の臨書です。写真は昨日の京都の空で、この時期の俳句なのかなと思ったのです。

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The clear autumn air makes the heavens seem even higher/

I proceed to the direction/

As the clouds do/

Translation by Chio

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さて、私の書で見てみたいと思われるお好きな字や、言葉などがありましたら、chio_art@yushokai.com宛にお教えください。

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<To the homepage of this website>

〜Two haikus 風の通り道〜

Two modern haikus about autumn wind.  I chose these because I felt the weather has become a little agreeable, however, it is still too hot in the daytime.

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秋風を詠った現代俳句を二句。少し過ごしやすくなってきましたので選びましたが、日中はまだ暑過ぎる感じで。

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Cluster of cosmoses maybe a gateway/

Of winds/

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I want a telescope/

That observes autumn breeze/

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Calligraphy and translation by Chio

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〜Harvest moon すすきが似合う〜

Today falls on August 15th in the old calendar, the day of the harvest moon.  We Japanese have a custom of appreciating the moon.  And I thought arranging my calligraphy with some Japanese silver grass and a small chestnut branch with a fruit would look nice because those plants are often associated with full moon.  I wrote a passage from an old Chinese poem and a Japanese modern haiku.  Both of their motif is the harvest moon.

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今日は中秋の明月にあたりますので、月と似合いそうなすすきや栗などと取り合わせました。明月を謳った古い中国の詩と日本の現代俳句です。

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〜New pair of glasses そそっかしくて・・・〜

I am afraid I am rather careless by nature.  And as I broke my long-time favorite pair of glasses, I bought these new ones.  Then the world started to look brighter and clearer, so I guess it worked out in the end.

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私はどうもそそっかしい人間で、長年愛用した眼鏡を壊してしまいました。それで眼鏡を新調したところ、世の中が明るく綺麗に見えるようになって、結果オーライです。

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Near-future/

Reflected by/

New glasses/

Calligraphy and translation by Chio

〜Old home of Japanese hearts 連れて行ってもらいました〜

A neighborhood lady took me to a suburban area north of Kyoto which many people find to be an old place of Japanese people’s hearts.  I just kept enjoying the views around sitting on the passenger seat and I realized it was such a beautiful place.

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ご近所さんが、京都の山里と呼べるところに連れて行ってくださいました。私はただずっと助手席に座って、周りの景色を楽しんでいました。確かに美しいところだと思いました。

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Deep human empathy in the mountain village/

Inn of autumn leaves/

Calligraphy and translation by Chio

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〜Gazing at each other 一方的ではない〜

The season of chrysanthemums has arrived and I searched a haiku about the flower for calligraphy material.  There were so many and I found this one very intriguing for the poet’s mindset.

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菊の季節到来ということで、菊の俳句を探しました。たくさんある中で、これは発想が面白いと思いました。

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My face is being gazed/

White mums, yellow mums/

Calligraphy and translation by Chio

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〜Bolero 音楽かファッションか〜

I searched a modern haiku about clouds in fall.  I came up with this one and found it very nice.  But what is “bolero” here?

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秋の雲を題材にした句を探しました。これが素敵だと思いましたが、このボレロって何?

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On a certain morning/

Autumn clouds/

Sounds like bolero/

Calligraphy and translation by Chio

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