More Haiku Musings On The Ironies Of Modern Life

Elderly uncle buying sake.

Do I really have to

Check his ID?

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This odd store.

I’ve never seen a customer here,

Yet, it survives.

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The forecast changes

To match the weather.

Sneaky.

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Why was my prayer

So much shorter?

I’m embarrassed.

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That gangster

Would be more frightening

Without the child seats.

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Are you free tomorrow?

Sure, let’s do something!

No reply.

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Non-smoker standing

With the smokers

Lazy bastard.

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Time to refill

Why is it always

My turn?

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All of these were written and drawn by the inimitable Yamada Zenjido, the artist who goes by y_haiku on Twitter and Instagram

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It’s the year 1784 and the shōgun rules with an iron fist . . . except within the walled pleasure quarter of Yoshiwara. Inside the Great Gate, samurai law does not apply, and it’s women who pull the strings

“The Samurai’s Octopus…is a truly remarkable book, one that surprised and charmed me at every turn of the page. You’re in for a treat.”
—James Ziskin, Anthony, Barry, and Macavity Award-winning author of the Ellie Stone mysteries

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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had

Published by Jonelle Patrick

Author of The Last Tea Bowl Thief

4 thoughts on “More Haiku Musings On The Ironies Of Modern Life”

  1. This is so amazing, cute and funny rolled into one, love these illustrations I will now seek out this person, if they are on Twitter that is, as I’m not on Instagram, thank you Jonelle

  2. thank you for these translations! I follow this account on Twitter in the hopes that my Japanese will eventually catch up to being able to understand it. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂

    1. My sistah! I too subscribe and struggle with these painfully (my reading ability is SO WRETCHED when it’s not digital), so I’ll admit here that I secretly ask a Japanese friend about the translations, in case I got it wrong. Which is, uh, not infrequent.

      1. OMG, thank you for making me go back check that I didn’t link that “instagram” to his Twitter, because DUH yes, I absolutely did. Fixed now, and I kiss your feet for the prompt!

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