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Summer solstice . . .
A magical moment in the year, one of light. We have decided to bring out our magazine on these special occasions that regulate our lives, the solstices and equinoxes. These are magical moments related to the light, because they are moments when we pause to grasp the rhythm of time, to rediscover what is important in our lives.
And what is more important in life than an openness of view, free from all prejudice towards things; an ironical way of seeing, not regarding things too seriously, being able to take them with a smile, even if they are serious and important.
When Mark asked me to join the haijinx team, I didn't hesitate for a moment. For me, haiku is at a turning point. The international haiku community is developing a structure, mailing lists and clubs grow in profusion. Everything is done so seriously: congresses, meetings, associations, rules, and the like. Haiku is becoming institutionalized. We are often very far from the childlike way of experiencing an emotion or a moment. Our writing and expression are censored by the "rules" or conventions of the group we belong to. We lose the open, naive way of viewing the world. haijinx presents an opportunity for us to return to haiku this freshness of writing .
Not to take oneself too seriously, to be able to preserve this free way of seeing, to enjoy oneself with anything, even in serious circumstances, to regain the naiveté of childhood. That’s the way to keep young! Basically, which one gives you more, a sublime haiku or one that makes you laugh and that you remember for a long time?
In this issue of haijinx you’ll find:
First, haiku and haiga, of course. More than 50 haiku written by more than 40 authors from around the world. We used a very strict selection process that involved multiple evaluations and long nights of reading. The haiga have circled the globe many times before they have been accepted.
Then the articles. We thought it would be useful to think about the why and the how of humor as a moving force of haiku. We asked a number of authors to share their views:
William J. Higginson speaks of Bashô’s humor; in this issue, "Playing in the Tradition".
David G. Lanoue introduces us to "Issa's Comic Vision".
Ryu Yotsuya tells us in "Humor and Kusatao's Haiku" that it’s really possible to have an ironic view of serious things. (This article is also available in Japanese.)
Well-known haijin have written things that have made us laugh. We’d like to introduce some of these folks to you in each issue. Each one of them also shares his thoughts on humor and haiku.
Randy Brooks from the United States writes on "Consonance as the Genesis of the Haiku".
David Cobb of England contributes "Humour in Haiku".
Dhugal Lindsay currently of Japan discusses the haijin in "Humour in Haijin".
As an added bonus, both Dhugal Lindsay and Randy Brooks have recorded sound files of themselves reading haiku. These are included in their spotlight sections. Dhugal writes haiku in Japanese and then translates them into English, so he has recorded in both languages.
There are also two new regular features. First, a dialog between haijin, "light seasonings". Takashi Nonin, a new staff contributor, and our own Carmen Sterba explore memories illustrated by haiku. This is also available in Japanese.
The editors have carefully scrutinized the first issue of haijinx. In "editors' picks", we each select our favorite haiku from the previous issue, including an overall favorite among the four of us, and we explain our choices.
Also, just in time for summer, one of the most beautiful of Bashô's haiku as illustrated by Kuniharu Shimizu is available on a t-shirt. Get yours today!
by Serge Tomé
June 20, 2001
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