Classical Japanese Database

Text #49.

by #2. Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶)

Season:

Summer  

Subject:

Rain  

Commentary:

Higashiyama is an area of Kyoto renowned for its temples. The word June here is literally "No Water Month" because the lunar calendar had lost so many days. Kobayashi is joking about irony of calling the lead month of the rainy season "No Water Month" by mentioning the sky blue umbrellas of Kyoto.

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Japanese:

水無月や
空色笠や
東山

Romanization:

minatsuki ya
sora iro kasa ya
higashiyama

Translation #60:

It's June, and
the sky-blue umbrellas, and
Higashi-yama!