Matsuo Basho
became very successful in the Haiku literature when he lived in Koto ward.
In 1680, he moved from
Nihonbashi of Edo to a thatched hut in Fukagawa and made many superb Haikus, Japanese
world-shortest poems, and great travel writing such as Oku-no-Hosomichi.
In September 1919, a frog stone sculpture was excavated from the aftermath of Typhoon at Tokiwa 1-chome. Then Basho museum was build on that place in 1981.
Near the
museum, there are Basho-Inari shrine, Saito-an and Basho historic garden also.
Saito-an is a
cottage of Sampu Suguyama who was a follower of Basho.
From
Saito-an, Basho departed for writing his masterpiece, Oku-no-Hosomichi.
Basho historic
garden is located alongside of Sumida river and Onagi river. And that gives us
a fantastic riverside view.
In the
garden, there are a statue of Basho which is changing the direction at morning
and evening.
Inside the
Sunamachi Culture Center, there is Ishida Hakyo Memorial Center.
Hakyo was a Haiku
poet who had been lived Sunamachi for 12 years since 1946.
He wrote many
scenes of Koto area in Haiku.
Koto area was the
second hometown for him.
He was a leader of
Haiku after the world war second.
His family
contributed his article and literary works to the center.
Hakyo made Haiku
group which name was Tsuru.
Now Shigeo Suzuki
leads that group.
Please enjoy a
short trip to Koto ward and visit the place in connection with Basho and Hakyo.
By K. H.
