haikaiTALKS: a saturday gathering! 3rd January 2026 Guest poet: Keiko Izawa

Kala Ramesh
Jan 3
3 min read

Updated: Jan 9

haikaiTALKS: Japanese aesthetics – Mujō|a saturday gathering under the banyan tree

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haikaiTALKS

Special Guest Poet: Keiko Izawa

host: Srinivasa Sambangi

haikaiTALKS: a saturday gathering under the banyan tree

3rd January 2026

Japanese aesthetics – Mujō

The concept of impermanence, known as mujō, is a perspective on life that reflects the transient nature of all beings and things. It encourages an awareness of the constant change in our surroundings. While mujō is rooted in Buddhist teachings, it is also regarded as a significant aesthetic concept in Japan. A famous line from "The Tale of the Heike," often taught in schools in Japan, captures this idea: "The sound of the bell at Gion Shōja echoes the impermanence of all things."

Japan's four seasons embody the constant changes of life, fostering a unique perspective on impermanence. Flowers bloom and then wither, snow accumulates and eventually melts. Likewise, rivers across the country often exemplify impermanence due to their swift and unstoppable flow.

Mujō appreciates the beauty of small changes as they occur, rather than clinging to the desire for things to remain the same. In a similar vein, there's a reminder in the West: "memento mori," a Latin phrase that means "remember death." This can also be understood as a perspective on impermanence. Mono no aware (pathos of things), which relates to the concept of mujō, is often described as the involuntary sigh that arises when one recognizes the impermanence of nature and humanity.

This week, you are requested to write up to two haiku that incorporate the concept of mujō.

As usual, try to use kigo from the lists below. You can also use your local season words that are not listed here.

“A Dictionary of Haiku Classified by Season Words with Traditional and Modern Methods,” by Jane Reichhold:

https://thehaikufoundation.org/omeka/files/original/7fb6654a1dfd1afef97369da920530f8.pdf

Indian subcontinent SAIJIKI:

https://www.trivenihaikai.in/indian-saijiki

The Five Hundred Essential Japanese Season Words:

http://www.2hweb.net/haikai/renku/500ESWd.html

The World Kigo Database:

https://wkdkigodatabase03.blogspot.com/

The Yuki Teikei Haiku Season Word List:

https://yths.org/season-word-list/

Samples:

やがて死ぬけしきは見えず蝉の声

yagate shinu / keshiki wa miezu / semi no koe

so brisk

with no signs of soon dying –

cicada’s cry

~ Basho

散る桜残る桜も散る桜

chiru sakura / nokoru sakura mo / chiru sakura

fallen cherry petals ...

the rest

also destined to fall

~ Ryōkan

ひぐらしや錆ゆくものの家中に

higurashi ya / sabiyuku mono no / iejū ni

evening cicada –

everywhere in the house

rusting things

~ Katayama Yumiko

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KIGO WORDS

Shall we please try to include a kigo word in all the poems we share here?

Give the season and the word — under your poem.

I'm quoting Lev Hart's request here: "This week’s goal is to compose two verses with toriawase, blending wabi, sabi, karumi, mono no aware, and/or yugen. Tell us which aesthetic concepts you mean to express in a line below the verse. Strive for originality. Avoid stock phrases and shopworn images."

For seasonal references, please check these lists: