Monday, January 24, 2022
We are pleased to announce that Hiroko Yoshio, 74, a resident of Mibagyu, Hokuryu-cho and a member of the Hokkaido Haiku Association Hokuryu Branch, has won the 42nd Samejima Prize of the Hokkaido Haiku Association (Chairman: Onihiko Minamoto) for her haiku collection "Hanakada" (Flower Raft). Congratulations!
The award winners were decided at the Hokkaido Haiku Annual Editorial Committee's Prize Selection Committee meeting held on Wednesday, January 12. The certificates will be presented at the 2022 general meeting of the Hokkaido Haiku Association (June).
Samejima Prize (Samejima Prize)
The Samejima Prize was established after the death of Kogyoji Samejima, founder and first president of the Hokkaido Haiku Association (established in 1995). This year marks the 42nd edition of this prestigious award, which is given to haiku collections.
In the Hokuryu Branch of the Hokkaido Haiku Association, the late Mr. Hokuto Tanaka received the Samejima Prize in 1995. Hiroko Yoshio is the second recipient of this prestigious award.
Hiroko Yoshio
- Haiku name: Hiroko Yoshio Real name: Hiroko Yoshio
- Born in August 1947 in Hokuryu-cho, 74 years old, grew up in Hokuryu-cho
- In 1969, he married Masakazu Yoshio, a classmate from elementary school, junior high school, and high school, after a great love affair.
- Farmer growing rice and melons; gave up farmland at age 65
- In 1982, he joined the "Michi" Haiku Association. Since then, he has continued his haiku activities for 40 years.
- 2002 (Heisei 14) First collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice" published
- 2021 Second collection of haiku, "Hana Raft" published.
She is now blessed with six grandchildren and spends her days slowly, looking forward to seeing them from time to time.
First collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice," 2002; Second collection of haiku, "Flower Raft," 2021.
In 2002, his first collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice," was published, and 19 years later, in 2021, his second collection, "Hana Raft," was published.
Celebration to commemorate the publication of the first collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice
- The "Taoist" Collection: No. 132
- Date of issue: May 31, 2002 (Heisei 14)
- Author : Hiroko Yoshio
- Printing house: Sapporo Printing
On June 22, 2002 (Heisei 14), a celebration was held at the Hokuryu-cho Senior Citizens Welfare Center to commemorate the publication of Hiroko Yoshio's collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice.
Second collection of haiku, "Hana Raft" 19 years, 339 haiku
- The "Road" Collection: No. 202
- Date of issue: August 8, 2021
- Author : Hiroko Yoshio
- Printing : Aiward Co.
The collection "Hana Raft" consists of 339 haiku selected from those read over a 19-year period from 2001 to 2020, and is arranged in five chapters in chronological order.
The cover design of the haiku book is a lovely design of pink cherry blossom petals scattered on a black background.
Words from the President of the Michi-Haiku Association, Cape Tayu
In the preface to the collection "Hana Raft," the president of the Michi Haiku Association, Cape Tayu, wrote, "In every haiku in the collection "Hana Raft," you can see Hiroko Yoshio's face. It can be said that this collection is a "poetic voice of sensibility filled with the consciousness of life" as taught by Hokkousei, and that it is a collection that practices what Gen Onihiko advocated: "It is a poem given to you from the rising and falling of life that the climate gives birth to.
Hiroko Yoshio's Thoughts on "Hana Raft
The word "hana raft" refers to the petals scattered on the surface of the water, flowing in a series, resembling a raft.
- Flower Rafts: Toward a World Without Words and Words of Reason
Since ancient times, wars were fought repeatedly until World War II, but the Heisei Era was the only era of peace without war. In this haiku, I express my hope that this peace will continue into the 2025 era. The cherry petals falling and flowing down the width of the river is peace itself.
It was included in the first collection,
- Hana Raft, ending at Kashiko, my mother's writing.
I had deep feelings for Hana Raft in the haiku of "Hana Raft. But I wanted to convey my feelings for my mother, who suffers from dementia (Saki passed away at the age of 91, two years after the publication of the first collection), even if only a little, so I titled the first collection 'My Mother's Voice,'" said Hiroko Yoshio, who shared her feelings about the flower rafts.
Hiroko and Haiku
Encounter with Haiku
In the 1975's, Hiroko was encouraged by the head teacher of an elementary and junior high school in the Mibagyu district, who was enthusiastic about haiku, to take haiku lessons from her teacher.
"At a school-related consolation meeting, I said to the vice principal, 'Children grow up watching their parents' backs. Why don't you show them how to learn in your own way? I started learning haiku from the vice principal.
At the time, I was thinking of giving up haiku when my teacher was transferred to Iwamizawa, but he suggested I join the Hokuryu Branch of the Hokkaido Haiku Association, and I have continued to write haiku ever since," says Hiroko.
Haiku about everyday life as it is
At the Hokuryu Branch of the Hokkaido Haiku Association, members gather once a month to submit eight haiku each for critique. It is a fun time with snacks and refreshments.
In the critique, I often find that the haiku I thought was good is different from the haiku you evaluated.
When I get used to it, I tend to try to make my poems look good by using difficult seasonal words and so on. However, I don't know anything about difficult things, so I just try to be honest about my feelings and write down my daily life as it is.
I think the reason I have been able to do this for as long as I have is because of the connections I have made with my friends," he said.
Fill in your phone for what you came up with.
Hiroko writes down her daily thoughts in her smartphone now, even though she used to write them down in her notebook.
Interacting with many people through haiku
Participation in Ginshukai
I participate in a biannual haiku gathering where participants share their haiku and interact with their fellow haiku poets. One of the things I look forward to is meeting people I wouldn't normally meet through haiku.
Participated in the Sorachi Local Art Festival
We participate in the Sorachi Prefectural Folk Art Festival to promote exchanges with people in neighboring municipalities. The Sorachi Arts Festival is an event that has been held since 1977 to promote cultural activities by encouraging exchanges among the municipalities in the Sorachi region regarding local performing arts and cultural activities," says Hiroko.
Hiroko enjoys connecting and interacting with a large number of people by participating in various critique groups as well as local haiku circles.
Hiroko's Thoughts in Haiku
Feelings for your mother
- Red dragonflies, my mother's fingers, stopping at the right moment.(Published in the first collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice")
My mother was such a patient and intelligent person that she received a commendation from the mayor of Alexandria for her good deeds during the difficult postwar years," Hiroko said, speaking of her memories of her mother.
Thoughts for my husband
Many of the haiku in the collection express Hiroko's feelings for her husband, Masakazu.
- Honest, facing her husband, Tomo Sugina.
- Husband measuring the depth of snow in a rice field for sale
- A couple who praise each other once a day and wait for spring
- Pine tree in the garden, with a husband's own aesthetics
- A silent husband who loves the moon so much.
- I'm in love with my husband after all these years.
Masakazu, the honest and meticulous husband
Her husband Masakazu was diligent, honest, meticulous, and well respected, and served as a director and vice president of the Hokuryu Agricultural Cooperative Association from 1985 (Showa 60). After the merger, he served as the representative director of the Hokuryu district of JA Kitasorachi.
Although he is now retired, he also serves as chairman of the Hokuryu-cho Social Welfare Council and chairman of the Hokuryu-cho Agricultural and Livestock Products Direct Sales "Minorichi-Hokuryu" Shippers' Council.
Honest thoughts and feelings about your daily life and your grandchildren
- The Winter Galaxy: A Grandchildren's Play with One Line
When she went to see her grandson's play, the grandmother frantically looked for her grandson when he told her to "watch and remember" about his one and only line in the play.
I read a phrase that made me feel, "There are so many stars in the winter sky, but my grandson is only one of them. I spent two days visiting here to find that one line, and now I'm here," reads the phrase that reads his state of mind.
- Ogatta, where a new wife's voice escapes
I was very surprised to hear a loud voice in the neighborhood scolding the children of a normally very quiet wife who had no experience as a farmer. It was a phrase that I felt that because it was the remains of rice harvesting, the voice could be heard through the tube even more.
- Spring is in the air and a wise man is already in the world.
This phrase describes the feelings of a grandfather who hears the voice of his newborn baby (grandchild) sounding wise.
Afterword to the collection of haiku
Hiroko Yoshio's words in the afterword of the haiku collection are,
May all those who are connected to me, who played a part in the flower rafts, be in good health forever. I wish them all the best.
Mr. and Mrs!
The path they have taken together, supporting their faithful husband and being supported by their meticulous husband.
With boundless love, gratitude and prayers for their wonderful life together, as they find a new light together and spend their time slowly and carefree.
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◇ Photography and Editing: Noboru Terauchi Reporting and Writing: Ikuko Terauchi
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