Tokyo, Japan
Ode to the Journey
The water and land covered planet we call home is a unique rock in an endless universe. This Bella Gaia, with all her biodiversity, is so diverse, one lifetime doesn’t suffice to explore her entirely, and to completely figure out her grandeur. But every footstep is the beginning of a journey that brings you closer, and every visited destination offers new panoramas, pals and pleasures.
That is why Wideoyster, in collaboration with Mastercard, presents Ode to the Journey: a series of travelogues and videos in which we document odes of local poets to their country, region, city or street. In earlier editions you could already enjoy the poetry films of New York City, Brazil and Australia. In this edition we bring an ode to Japan.
One can hardly find any long poems about Japan. However, Japanese poets challenge each other to write poetry with a maximum of 17 syllables, better known as the haiku. A Haiku is a minuscule ode, and that’s why we selected 8 of them for our poetry film about Tokyo and Kyoto.
Video: Ode to Japan
Poets: Nishiyama Soin, Kobayashi Issa, Kaga no Chiyo, Yosa Buson, Natsume Soseki, Yamazaki Sōkan, Yosa Buson, Masaoka Shiki & Ō no Yasumaro
Direction & edit: Alessio Cuomo
Camera: John Donica
Creative direction: Marco Barneveld
Project Manager: Daan Vermeer
WideOyster Media ©
Meet the Masters of
Haiku
Matsuo Bashō
蝶の飛ぶばかり野中の日影哉
Butterflies
only fluttering
in this field of sunlight
Yosa Buson
夏河を 越すうれしさよ 手に草履
A summer river being crossed
how pleasing
with sandals in my hands!
Matsuo Bashō
雲霧の暫時百景を尽しけり
With clouds and mist
in a brief moment a hundred scenes
brought to fulfillment
Kobayashi Issa
蝸牛 そろそろ登れ 富士の山
O snail,
Climb Mount Fuji,
But slowly, slowly!
Natsume Sōseki
錦画や壁に寂びたる江戸の春
The lamp once out
Cool stars enter
The window frame.
Matsuo Bashō
君火を焚けよきもの見せん雪まるげ
You light the fire
I’ll show you something nice,
a great ball of snow.
Yosa Buson
目に遠くおぼゆる藤の色香かな
In the moonlight,
The color and scent of the wisteria
Seems far away.
Matsuo Bashō
夏草や兵どもが夢の跡
The summer grasses,
All that remains
Of the warriors’ dreams
