Date & Time: Saturday, February 14, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Participants: Nine students (eight international students—two from India, one each from the Philippines, Gabon, Russia, Germany, China and other countries—and one Japanese student)
Locations: Okurayama Plum Grove in Okurayama Park (haiku outing) and Okurayama Memorial Hall (lecture, lunch and workshop), in Yokohama City
Attendants: Eleven KSGG members
Languages: English and Japanese
A traditional haiku*1 activity known as a ginko kukai—a combination of a nature walk and a poetry workshop—was held with international students at Okurayama Park. Participants gathered inspiration for their poems in the plum grove before composing their haiku afterward. As it had snowed the previous week, there were concerns about the weather, but fortunately, the day turned out to be brilliantly sunny.
With plum blossoms seemingly whispering in bloom, Japanese white-eyes flitting from tree to tree, and the red-and-white curtains of temporary tea stalls catching the eye everywhere, it was a perfect day for a haiku outing.
After the students and KSGG members enjoyed a friendly stroll through the plum garden, a kukai (haiku gathering) was held at Okurayama Memorial Hall. Divided into three groups, each developed its own character: one filled with cheerful laughter, another reflecting on life through haiku, and a third striving to shape their ideas into well-formed Japanese. Yet all shared a warm and convivial atmosphere, making it an enjoyable joint learning session between senior members (KSGG) and younger international students.
Participants had been told that they could compose their haiku in either English or Japanese, but it was a pleasant surprise that most of the eight international students chose to write in Japanese.
All fourteen submitted haiku were excellent, and two of them are presented here.
weeping plum—
petals drifting
across the pond
(Shidareume/ hanabira ochiru/ ike no ue)
a white-eye arrives—
in the light of the wind
spreading its wings
(mejiro kite/ kaze no hikari ni /hane hiroge )
Through haiku, it would be wonderful if they were able to sense, even a little, the joy of experiencing the seasons with all five senses, the richness of the Japanese language, and the excitement of expressing themselves freely. Participants commented, “It was an exciting and wonderful experience.” “I enjoyed learning Japanese expressions and getting to know everyone.” “I’d like to study Japanese more in order to compose haiku.” It was clear that everyone had truly enjoyed the event.
As everyone said their goodbyes, a few participants waved and called out, “See you again!”—Please, do come again!
*1: Haiku is a short Japanese poem with 17 syllables, structured in a 5-7-5 pattern. It usually describes a moment in nature or the seasons.
——
2026-4-21