Have you heard of Japanese poem called, Haiku? Haiku is a very traditional form of poem we have in Japan since Meiji era.  It is very easy to create your own, and you can be very creative as to which words to use, etc.  The only catch to this is that you have to follow 3 simple, yet very important rules.  Below, I have explained these important rules. After mastering these 3 simple rules, you will be on your way to create one and only special haiku of your own. Read on~.

 

Haiku (俳句、はいく) is a special poem that traditionally follow the following 3 rules.

 

1. 17 syllable- rule -All haiku has to have exactly seventeen syllables all together. Syllables are organized in the order of 5 – 7 – 5 syllables within the poem.  This is one of the most important rules of Haiku. By having 17 syllables in the order of 5-7-5, it helps create a flow as you read haiku.
2. Use of Kigo(季語、きご) – Kigo is any word that has a hint of “season” in it. Kigo could indicate any of the 4 seasons of Haru (spring), Natsu (summer), Aki (fall), and Fuyu (winter). For example: Sakura (cherry blossom) is one of the kigo’s for spring.
3. Use of Kire (切れ、きれ) – Kire means simply a section that you pause while reading haiku. It is said that the ideal haiku would have a pause section right after the first 5 syllables. I will explain about this below.

With this said, here are some examples of haiku.

１．古池や　蛙飛び込む　水の音 

ふるいけや　かわずとびこむ　みずのおと

furuikeya kawazutobikomu mizunooto

English translation: old pond / a frog jumps in / splash!

This is one of the most famous haiku’s in Japan, created by Basho Matsuo.

==> In this haiku, kigo is kawazu = frog (蛙), which indicates “spring”

==> When you read this haiku, you are to pause after “furuikeya”.

 

２．閑さや　岩にしみ入る　蝉の声

しずかさや いわにしみいる せみのこえ

shizukasaya iwanishimiiru mushinokoe

English translation: What a tranquility! / penetrating the rock, / voice of  cicada’s

This is another famous haiku by Basho Matsuo.

==> In this haiku, kigo is semi = cicada (蝉), which indicates  “summer”

==> When you read this haiku, you are to pause after “shizukasaya”.

 

３．雪だるま　星のおしゃべり　ぺちゃくちゃと　

ゆきだるま　ほしのおしゃべり　ぺちゃくちゃと

Yukidaruma hoshinooshaberi pechakuchato

English translation: Snowman / talking to stars / chattering away

Written by Takashi Matsumoto

==> In this haiku, kigo is yukidaruma = snowman (雪だるま), which indicates “winter”

==> After “yukidaruma”, there should be a pause to break the flow.

 

You can be creative and make your very own as long as you follow the rules above. However, I would say that the most important rule that you need to keep in mind is the 17 syllable- rule. As long as you break your haiku into 3 sections, 5-7-5 syllables each, you are all set!