Admire the beauty of nature in the changing seasons, and sometimes project your own feelings toward the changes in nature and time. These things are expressed in all kinds of art. In Japan, the changing beauty of nature and delicate emotions have been expressed in short 31-character poems in waka poetry since ancient times.
In Japan, there is a collection of Japanese poems selected by the imperial command. This is a collection of waka poems that were ordered to be selected and collected by the Emperor, Retired Emperor, and Cloistered Emperor. There are 21 volumes in total. The most well-known ones are the Kokin Wakashu (Collection of Kokin Wakashu) (905: Emperor Daigo). This is the first imperial collection of waka poems, containing 1,100 poems. After that, approximately 2000 poems were included in Gotobain's "Shin Kokin Wakashu" (1205). Among the multiple editors is Fujiwara Teika, who is also known as the editor of Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.
The new collection of ancient and modern waka poems includes songs from a variety of genres, including grief, separation, love, and the four seasons. In this season of blooming flowers, I would like to select an elegant waka poem and think about the scene of spring 800 years ago and the poet's feelings towards it.
■ “ひとりのみ ながめて散りぬ 梅の花 知るばかりなる 人は問ひ来ず” "Only one person looks at the plum blossoms and they don’t fall. No one comes asking questions because they only know about it." Hachijoin Takakura
→While I was staring at the plum blossoms in my garden alone, lost in thought, the flowers fell. No one has come to understand the beauty of this flower.
This song is written by Honkadori. Honkadori is one of the traditional methods of waka poetry that incorporates the phrases and ideas of famous old poems into one's own compositions.
□Main song Only for you ``The plum blossoms that I show to everyone, the color and scent are known only to those who know'' Tomonori Ki
→Let me show this plum blossom to anyone but you. Even though you are the only person who can understand the emotion of color and scent.
■ “ひとりのみ ながめて散りぬ 梅の花 知るばかりなる 人は問ひ来ず”
"I never give up on flowers, I always grieve, but there is no time like Kefu’s tonight” Ariwara Narihira
→I have always lamented that no matter how many times I look at flowers, I never get tired of them, but never has that lament been as deep as it is today.
It refers to the cherry blossoms at the flower banquet of Takako Fujiwara, who was the consort of Emperor Seiwa at the time. The flowers also suggest Takako herself.
A song that combines memories of beautiful cherry blossoms and memories of a woman he loves. That passionate love is conveyed even in the part "Kefu's tonight".
Regarding Narihira Ariwara, it is said that Narihira is the man who is mentioned at the beginning of the Tales of Ise (circa 9th to 10th century), ``Once upon a time, there was a man.'' He is depicted as an excellent poet and a beautiful man with endless love affairs.
This collection of ancient and modern waka poems is a carefully selected collection of a variety of excellent poems, including poems about the four seasons and love songs, from an era when people, not just Narihira, were absorbed in love and expressed their feelings through songs. It can be seen that Gotoba-in, who is said to have excelled in literature and martial arts, also understood the feelings of the people in society, and compiled the imperial collection.
The ``Uta-kai Hajime'' is held at the Imperial Household in January every year. It is considered to be one of the important imperial court events that has continued since the Nara period, and has been passed down in various forms throughout its long history.Currently, there is also a public call for entries from the public. The theme changes every year, and I looked at the themes published on the Imperial Household Agency website since 1945. It didn't seem like there was a "love" theme, but I personally thought it might be interesting.
