Monday, January 24, 2022
Hiroko Yoshio (74 years old), a resident of Miboshi, Hokuryu Town, and a member of the Hokkaido Haiku Society, Hokuryu Branch, has been awarded the 42nd Samejima Prize by the Hokkaido Haiku Association (Chairman: Minamoto Onihiko) for her collection of haiku, Hanaikada (Flower Raft). Congratulations!
The award recipients were decided at the Hokkaido Haiku Yearbook Editorial Committee's award selection committee meeting held on Wednesday, January 12th. The certificates of commendation will be presented at the Hokkaido Haiku Association's 2022 regular general meeting (June).
Samejima Award
The Samejima Award was established after the death of Samejima Kogyoshi, the founder and first president of the Hokkaido Haiku Association (established in 1995). This prestigious award, awarded to collections of haiku, is now in its 42nd year (Samejima Kogyoshi: 1888 (Meiji 21) - 1980 (Showa 55), born in Nagano Prefecture).
The Hokkaido Haiku Society, Hokuryu Branch, previously awarded the Samejima Award to the late Hokuto Tanaka in 1995 (Heisei 7). Hiroko Yoshio is the second person to receive this prestigious award.
Hiroko Yoshio
- Pen name: Yoshio Hiroko Real name: Yoshio Hiroko
- Born in August 1947 (Showa 22), 74 years old, raised in Hokuryu Town
- In 1969 (Showa 44), she married Masakazu Yoshio, a classmate from elementary, junior high and high school, after a passionate love affair, and was blessed with one son and two daughters.
- He worked as a farmer cultivating rice and melons. At the age of 65, he gave up his farmland and left farming.
- He joined the "Michi" haiku club in 1982 (Showa 57) and has been writing haiku ever since, for 40 years.
- 2002 (Heisei 14) Published his first collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice"
- 2021 (Reiwa 3) Publication of second collection of poems “Hana Kaida”
He is now blessed with six grandchildren and spends his days relaxing, looking forward to seeing them from time to time.
First collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice," 2002; Second collection of haiku, "Flower Raft," 2021
His first collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice," was published in 2002 (Heisei 14), and his second, "Flower Raft," was published 19 years later in 2021 (Reiwa 3).
Celebration to commemorate the publication of the first collection of haiku poems, "Mother's Voice"
- "Michi" Bunko: No. 132
- Issue date: May 31, 2002 (Heisei 14)
- Author: Hiroko Yoshio
- Printer: Sapporo Printing
On June 22nd, 2002, a celebration was held at the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Welfare Center to commemorate the publication of Hiroko Yoshio's haiku collection, "Mother's Voice."
2nd collection of poems “Hana Kada” 19 years, 339 poems
- "Michi" Bunko: No. 202
- Publication date: August 8, 2021 (Reiwa 3)
- Author: Hiroko Yoshio
- Printing: I-Ward Co., Ltd.
The collection of haiku, "Hanaikada," is composed of 339 haiku excerpts from those read over a 19-year period from 2001 (Heisei 13) to 2020 (Reiwa 2), and is organized into five chapters in chronological order.
The cover design of the collection of haiku is a beautiful design with pink cherry blossom petals scattered across a black background.
Message from the Director of the Road Haiku Club, Tayu Misaki
In the preface to the collection of haiku "Hanaikada," the head of the Michi Haiku Society, Tayu Misaki, writes, "In every haiku in the collection of haiku "Hanaikada," you can see the face of Yoshio Hiroko. It is 'poetic voices of sensibility that incorporate a sense of life into their content,' as taught by Hokkosei, and can be said to be a collection that puts into practice what Minamoto Onihiko advocated: 'poetry that is given to us from the waking and lying down of life that is born from the local climate.'"
Hiroko Yoshio's thoughts on "Flower Raft"
"The word 'hanaikada' comes from the idea that the petals scattered on the water's surface resemble a raft.
- Flower rafts, a world without war, towards the Reiwa era
Wars had been occurring repeatedly since ancient times up until World War II, but the Heisei era was the only era of peace without war. This poem expresses the hope that this peace will continue into the Reiwa era. The sight of scattered cherry blossom petals flowing across the river is the very definition of peace.
Included in the first collection of haiku,
- Flower raft, my mother's letter ends with "Here"
"There were deep feelings about the flower rafts in the poems. But I wanted to convey at least some of my feelings about my mother, who was suffering from dementia (Saki passed away at the age of 91, two years after the publication of her first collection of haiku), so I titled my first collection 'Mother's Voice,'" says Hiroko Yoshio, sharing her feelings about the flower rafts.
Hiroko and Haiku
My Encounter with Haiku
In the 1970s, Hiroko was recommended to study haiku by her vice principal, who was passionate about haiku, at elementary and junior high schools in the Mibaushi area, and began receiving instruction in haiku from him.
"At a school-related appreciation meeting, the vice principal said to me, 'Children grow up by watching their parents. Whatever you do, why don't you try to show your willingness to learn in your own way as a mother?' So I began learning haiku from the vice principal.
At the time, my teacher was transferred to Iwamizawa, and I was thinking of giving up haiku, but he encouraged me to join the Hokkaido Haiku Society, Hokuryu Branch, and I have continued ever since,” says Hiroko.
Expressing everyday life as it is in haiku
"At the Hokkaido Haiku Society, Hokuryu Branch, members gather once a month, submit eight haiku each, and then hold a critique session. It's a fun time, with snacks to enjoy.
During the commentary, the haiku that I thought was good was often different from the haiku that everyone else evaluated.
Once you get used to it, you tend to try to make it look cool by using difficult seasonal words, etc. But I don't understand difficult things, so I write haiku that are honest with my feelings and describe everyday life as it is.
I think the reason I've been able to continue for so long is largely due to the connections I've made with my teammates."
Write down any ideas you have on your smartphone
Hiroko used to write down her daily thoughts in a notebook, but now she writes them down on her smartphone.
Interacting with many people through haiku
Participation in Gingyōkai
"I take part in haiku gatherings twice a year, where participants share their haiku and interact with their peers. One of the things I enjoy is meeting people I wouldn't normally meet through haiku."
Participating in the Sorachi Regional Arts Festival
"We participate in the Sorachi Regional Local Arts Festival and interact with people from neighboring cities and towns. The Sorachi Regional Local Arts Festival aims to promote cultural activities, encouraging exchanges between regions regarding local performing arts and cultural activities. It is an event that has been held in rotation among the cities and towns in the Sorachi region since 1977 (Showa 52)," says Hiroko.
Hiroko not only participates in a local haiku circle, but also in various critique meetings, enjoying connecting and interacting with many people.
Hiroko's thoughts in her haiku
Thoughts about your mother
- A red dragonfly chooses to land on my mother's finger(Published in the first collection of haiku, "Mother's Voice")
"My mother was a patient and intelligent person, and even during the difficult post-war period, she continued to care for my father-in-law as a family member for seven years, for which she was awarded the mayor's commendation for her good deeds," Hiroko says, expressing her deep feelings for her mother.
Feelings for her husband
The collection includes many poems that express Hiroko's feelings for her husband, Masakazu.
- Facing her honest husband, Sugina Tomo
- My husband measures the depth of the snow on the rice field he sold.
- A couple who praise each other once a day and wait for spring
- Matsuteiri, committed to her husband's aesthetics
- My silent husband admires the full moon.
- The flowers have faded, and now I'm in love with my husband
Her honest and meticulous husband, Masakazu
Her husband, Masakazu, was a hardworking, honest, meticulous man who was highly respected and served as a director and vice president of the Hokuryu Town Agricultural Cooperative from 1985. After the merger, he served as the representative director of JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu District.
Furthermore, although he is now retired, he served as chairman of the Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council (Social Welfare) and chairman of the Shippers' Council of Hokuryu Town Agricultural and Livestock Products Direct Sales Store "Minoritchi Hokuryu," and continued to work hard for the town.
Honest thoughts about daily life and thoughts about grandchildren
- Winter Galaxy: A play by a grandson with one line
When a grandmother goes to see her grandson's play, the grandson tells her to "watch carefully and remember it" in response to his only line in the play, and the grandmother desperately searches for him.
This poem captures the poet's feelings: "There are so many stars in the winter sky, but my grandchild is just one of them. I spent two days visiting this place to find that one line, and now I'm here."
- The newlywed's voice penetrates the tube, Ogatta
The poet was very surprised to hear his daughter-in-law, who has no farming experience and is usually very quiet, scolding her child in the neighborhood. He felt that the voices were even more audible because the rice had just been harvested.
- As spring approaches, the voices of the wise men are already heard
This poem expresses the feelings of a grandfather who hears the wise voice of his newborn baby (grandchild).
Afterword to the collection of haiku
Hiroko Yoshio wrote in the afterword to the collection of haiku:
"I hope that all the people connected to me who performed in Flower Raft Petals will stay healthy forever..."
Couples together!
She firmly supported her highly respected husband, and while he was also supported by her meticulous husband, the two of them supported each other as they walked their paths together...
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers for the wonderful life you two will lead together as you discover new light and live a relaxed and stress-free life together...
Other photos
Related articles and sites
▶ For more information about the Michi Haiku Club, click here >>
▶ For more information about the Hokkaido Haiku Association, click here >>
◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi
![Hokuryu's Yoshio's haiku collection "Flower Raft" wins Samejima Prize [Hokkaido Shimbun]](https://portal.hokuryu.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-01-21-12.37.25-375x359.jpg)
