Wakayama Prefecture's English Newsletter since 1987.

Poetry and Prose

What is Oseibo?


Maiko Takenaka
This time of year you must often hear the Japanese phrase “(O)seibo” but do you know what it means? I bet many Japanese people do not know its exact meaning, although many of them are up to their ears in preparations for (O)seibo. (more)

Posted in December 2005


The Value of Time


Submitted by Ruzana Binti Saat
To realize the value of ONE YEAR - ask the university/college student who failed a grade. To realize the value of ONE MONTH (more)

Posted in August 2003


The Story of Cowboy and Vega


Zhu Changuan
Long, long ago, there was an orphan called cowboy who lived with his elder brother. Although he was very clever and diligent, his brutal elder brother?fs wife disliked him and kicked him out of their home. He only got an old cow. (more)

Posted in April 2003


How far is Japan, how long does it take


Owen Marshall Like Zen poetry, life in Japan turns. Fairly soon after You solve the riddle it gives, it turns again. Under blue sky, in the mountains, we stood. This farmer and me... Skin like liquid, his eyes Struck me... (more)

Posted in October 2002


Peace and Good Health


New Year at the shrine Thoughts of health, happiness and Good relationships. Traditional art Backs a hip generation. Timely expression. Kotatsu you keep My feet very warm, but not My head, back, or hands. Omiyage is Very often a sweet... (more)

Posted in February 2002


An Ode To Japan


Japan is a country with many strange ways From toilet slippers to lazy days I have not been here long but this I have found Things are expensive not using the pound Typhoons are something not to forget Stay indoors... (more)

Posted in August 2001


Reflections of Japan


As the end of my contract draws closer, I've inevitably been taking stock of my time in Japan. If I had known how difficult it would be to live in the countryside here, I don't think I would have accepted... (more)

Posted in June 2001


Kataonami & "And Unto This My Exile..."


Kataonami It is still here where the sky bows to a sinking sun. The air is not cold here, nor light; but like a lover's breath is thick, moist, tear-salted, plays on the skin. The tree whispers heavily; its words... (more)

Posted in November 2000


It's All Up To You


The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; Wider freeways but narrower viewpoints; We spend more but have less; We buy more but enjoy it less. We have more knowledge but less... (more)

Posted in October 2000


Bosouzoku


(fearless wandering tribes) First came the noise, butchering the plumage and whitening jugulars. That noise pulling smashed stems from the sewers. That noise, punishing the night, was leaving it to rot on the meridians of bare streets. First came the... (more)

Posted in August 2000


A King and His Queen


Tucked away in their Heaven by the sea, live a god and goddess. Before the regal sun has spread his golden cloak over the earth, the Seaside god has tip-toed into his kitchen. With painstaking care, he fashions a feast... (more)

Posted in August 2000


Before Breakfast


Red dust and the chatter of children whips around a hundred years recorded on the dried kelp skin of a woman smoking hashish. They have entered my sleep and my morning marking red dye on each other's foreheads appeasing the... (more)

Posted in July 2000


Smiling Faces


Your Smiling faces surround my being. You are heartless creatures with senseless feelings. You take the time to stop and stare, and don't know how to love or care. I call you Smiling Faces. Your language is foreign, unknown. You... (more)

Posted in February 2000


A Young Man and the Sea


"Please, Sir, don't let look the lady!" The bump barely communicated through the van's suspension, but the brittle crushing sound was clear enough. My friend - the lady - awoke momentarily, too late to see the receding sight of the... (more)

Posted in February 2000


Do goldfish fall in love?


she cannot remember my birthday, I've written down the colour of her eyes, she hardly knows why I am here, and has forgotten my schoolboy sighs. I will return soon enough to meet her, and there it will become plain... (more)

Posted in February 2000


Last Winter


They find him in the back bedroom of his small clapboard house. He is on the bed, lying on top of a threadbare coverlet and Jay and Sheila are surprised to see him in his boxer shorts. His pale and... (more)

Posted in January 2000


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Last Update 2005-12-01T01:02:01 GMT+09:00

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