The Lobster Dance

…Suddenly I thought of an old friend
Separated from me by miles of mountain and rivers.
Will we ever meet again?
I gaze toward the sky,
Tears streaming down my cheeks.

-Taigu Ryôkan (1758-1831), translated by John Stevens (Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf)

Mt. Hakusan, July 2010

My very first (and very well loved) book of Japanese poetry was John Steven’s One Robe, One Bowl, translations of the poetry of the Zen poet Ryôkan (1758-1831), which I bought when I was about 16. Although I’ve never achieved much with my own on-again-off-again affairs with writing poetry, I was and am still greatly moved by the simplicity of his verse and Stevens’ translation of it.

As I am not a wandering monk and the Japan Post can attest that I own more than one robe and one bowl, I find it hard to choose one of his poems for my announcement that I am leaving Kanazawa, a city I have grown to love quite fiercely (though I  fear it may be unrequited), for new opportunities in the US. Thank you all for reading these last four years; and don’t worry– I will continue writing about Japan, culture, media, and gender as always, just from a new location. There might be a gap as I figure out my Internet situation, get over jet lag, and hop around between accommodations, but I’ll be back and hope to be better than ever. And I’ll have a brand new shiny copy of the new Ôoku: Eien movie (preordered) to motivate me to finish the drama recaps; some new manga to review; articles outlined….

It really hurts to this place, but I’m going to keep telling myself that it’ll be okay eventually. I’ll be back in one way or another, maybe for a shinkansen tour of Hokuriku (coming in 2015).

I don’t know how to write about this in a way that doesn’t seem trite (see above), so I will write a verse of my own here and hope it will be sufficient.

Sorting through my possessions
I keep every New Year’s card, every purikura photo
How much I fear forgetting
How much I fear being forgotten

See you on the other side. 宜しくお願いします！