A Grave 'Contract; with the People of Japan

摘要

Whether it is a freak of nature, the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake that attacked the Tohoku District has delayed signs of spring in northern country, and sleeting rain still stays frozen on my breast. In spring, as I depart, birds cry and fish have tears in their eyes. It was March 27,1689 when Basho, the haiku poet, went on his wandering voyage to Oshu (Tohoku region). That was 400 years ago. Maybe the miserable state of affairs with the tsunami and the nuclear power station accident made me recall this poem.