Latest newsletter: salmon

December 20, 2016

Here is a Haiku written by Matsuo Basho.

"Yukino asita Hitori karazakewo Kamietari"

Interpretation: The rich eats fine meats and the young eats root
vegetables. So what do I, the poor haiku poet, eat? I am chewing
dried salmon by myself in a snowy morning.

Taisetsu, during a period of 15 days from December 7th to winter
solstice on the 24th divides the solar year calendar, it is said that
this is the season that schools of salmon go upstream. Salmon reminds
Japanese people of autumn salmon (which go back to the river where
they were born in the most Northern area or Hokkaido (Northern Japan)
for spawning) or cold area. However, salmon actually only go upstream
between October and December. Salmon start migration in the Northern
countries such as Hokkaido and then slowly go down to the south
towards Fukuoka prefecture (Southern Japan) located beside the Sea of
Japan.

Read the full article:
Being worshipped as the incarnation of god: "salmon"

Translation by: Hitomi Kochi, reviewed by Chan Yee Ting

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