Red wine and Hyakunin Isshu

January 30, 2024

Happy New Year!

My New Year's enjoyment this year was red wine and Hyakunin Isshu.

I prepare red wine by heating it to evaporate alcohol, reducing it from 300ml to 250ml or 200 ml. It’s a meticulous approach due to the potential carcinogenicity of alcohol. Despite not knowing the term precisely, I appreciate the rich “full-bodied” taste of concentrated red wine. Starting with ¥1200 and ¥1600 convenience store wines, I'll explore ¥2000, or ¥3000 wines to discern their flavours.

Another joy is Hyakunin Isshu. Though always interested, I couldn't study it. This New Year, I got hooked on the challenge of hearing the first verse and saying the second. It's more engaging than memorizing all, and it enriches life as meanings unfold. From initially knowing only some 10 school taught poems, I can now recite many.

Here are two favourite Hyakunin Isshu tanka poems:

"In the mountains of Oe-yama - Along the distant road of Ikuno - It’s still far away to Amano-Hashidate (the bridge of heaven) - No letters from my mother."

Oe-yama Ikuno no michi no to kereba mada humi mo mizu Ama-no-hashidate

And

"Coming from Awaji Island - Resounding chirps of plovers - Night after night, the warden of Suma's barrier - Awake and sleepless."

Awaji-shima kayou chidori no nakukoe ni ikuyo mezamenu Suma no Sekimori

As a resident of Maiko district where I can see Awaji Island and is near to the Suma sea shore, I especially love the latter.

Tomorrow is January 31st, concluding the New Year month. Despite a turbulent start of this year, I pray for peace and happiness in Japan and worldwide.