Returning to Matsuyama to See My Grandmother: Thoughts from Shiki-do's Three-Tatami Room

I arrived in Matsuyama when the morning air was still soft.

The March sky was overcast, and the white light peculiar to spring spread over the town.
Despite the long journey, I felt strangely awake.

Perhaps it is because I have plans to see my grandmother.
A slight tension remains deep in my chest.

Since I had some time before my appointment,
I headed toward Dogo Onsen.

Dogo Onsen and Glass

When I think of Matsuyama, the first thing that comes to mind is

Dogo Onsen

Known as one of Japan's oldest hot springs,
it is an iconic place in Matsuyama that also appears in literary works.

Located near that hot spring district is

Dogo Giyaman Glass Museum

It is a museum that exhibits Edo-period giyaman (glassware) and Japanese glass from the Meiji and Taisho eras.

I like the quiet atmosphere of this place,
and I occasionally stop by when I return to Matsuyama.

While looking at the exhibits,
I noticed a fish-shaped glass dish placed on a shelf.

It was a pale pink, transparent dish.

The display light was shining down from above.
Filtering through that light, the shadow of a fish was cast onto the shelf.

A glass fish and a shadow fish.

It looks as if two fish are swimming there.

And so, a haiku.

Spring lamp light,
shadow of a glass fish
floats on the shelf

Transparent things sometimes create shadows more beautiful than reality.

Shikido

The next place I headed to was

Shikido

a place associated with Masaoka Shiki.

Shikido is

Matsuyama City Station
nearby, and

Iyotetsu Takashimaya
is just a short walk away.

The current building was built after the war, recreating the original floor plan based on Shiki's former residence, which was destroyed in the war.

Even though it is in the center of Matsuyama, I felt as if time flowed a little more slowly there.

Masaoka Shiki

Masaoka Shiki is known as the person who established modern haiku.

Until then, haiku were
often conceptual.

Shiki changed that.

Observe nature,
and compose it just as it is.

Shasei (sketching from life)is the concept.

Widely known as his representative haiku is

Eating a persimmon,
the bell tolls,
Horyu-ji Temple

This is the haiku.

To take the reality before one's eyes and
put it directly into words.

That was the starting point of modern haiku.

A Three-Tatami Space

Inside Shikido,
a small room of about three tatami mats has been recreated.

It is by no means a large space.

However,
modern haiku was born from that very place.

Watching the spring light coming in through the window,
I also composed a haiku.

In three tatami mats,
the spring light
brushes across the page

Even in a small place,
words can spread to the world.

Soseki and Matsuyama

When talking about Matsuyama,
one cannot forget another literary figure.

Natsume Soseki

Soseki worked as an English teacher at a middle school in Matsuyama from 1895 to 1896.

The novel written based on that experience is

Botchan

itself.

The scenery of the town of Matsuyama, such as the castle town of Matsuyama Castle and Dogo Onsen, serves as the background for this work.

Perhaps that is why, when walking through the town of Matsuyama,
I feel the presence of literature.

My Three-Tatami Room

I, too, have a space about three tatami mats in size.

It is a
karaoke room at Chocozap.

There, I
practice singing.

Shiki had haiku.
I have singing.

Our fields are different.

However,
in terms of honing something in a small space,
I feel we are somewhat alike.

Spring clouds—
In the room where Shiki is no more,
I have come.

The Mountain Grave

After that,
I headed to visit my family's grave.

Leaving the town of Matsuyama,
I drove the car toward the mountains.

The weather in the mountains is fickle.

By the time I reached the grave,
the sky suddenly turned.

Heavy rain fell,
and thunder rumbled in the distance.

Spring thunder
echoes low and long.

So, a haiku.

Spring thunder—
Beating upon the mountain graveyard,
the rain falls incessantly.

Grandmother

After that, I headed to the facility where my grandmother is.

The visiting time is
fifteen minutes.

It is short.

When there are many family members or staff around,
the conversation inevitably scatters.

People cannot
hear many voices at once.

Looking at my grandmother's face,
I compose one final haiku.

Spring rain—
my grandmother's gaze
rests in my heart

Spring road

There was only one purpose for this trip home.

To see my grandmother.

That was accomplished.

I think that is enough.

Walking through the town of Matsuyama,
I compose one final haiku.

Spring road—
polishing my voice,
I walk on

Even in a small place,
people live while polishing something.