John LaFollette • John's Haiku •

The life of Kiyoko Tokutomi started on an island in South Japan, Kyushu, which eventually leads her to the United States in 1954. When she arrived she became studying English at San Jose City College. By her third year she was able to speak English. Her life was spent studying and nurturing to an ill Kiyoshi who invited her to the United States and later became married by 1957. Kiyoshi continued to suffer from tuberculosis and later went back to Japan that treated the tuberculosis, but in the process he completely lost his hearing. This allowed Kiyoko to introduce haiku to Kiyoshi who became motivated by this art of writing. Following are a list of accomplishment made by Kiyoshi and Kiyoko: Co-founder of the Yuki TeiKei Haiku Society, 1975 Haiku Journal, the official magazine of Yuki Teikei, 1977 Edited first GEPPO: work-study journal, 1978 Invited to speak at Haiku International Conference, 1997 Kiyoko was named dojin in Kari, a designation given to the most accomplished member of a group, 1999 Yuki Teikei Haiku Society celebrate 25th Anniversary, 2000 Invited to read at the celebration of 50th Anniversary of US – Japanese Peace Treaty, 2001 at the bottom all things are visible winter river Kiyoko TokutomiOn December 14, 2002, the Yuki TeiKei Haiku Society meet and was honored by the presence of Kiyoko. They celebrated not only her arrival to this meeting, but also for the book Kiyoko’s Sky. This was a special occasion for all members and will be remember to be the last special occasion since Kiyoko passed away quietly on December 28. Kiyoko would have been 74. The Yuki Teikei Haiku Society continues today with the wisdom of Kiyoko and the push for kigo to illuminate “the haiku possibilities”. Even the name haiku society’s name had value meaning: YU - Having KI - Season TEI - Formal KEI - Pattern This began the structure of using seasonal eliminates within a haiku which kept to traditional haiku. Kiyoko also used the English version of haiku, 5-7-5, which is still used today when composing haiku. Even though 5-7-5 is not the traditional methods of Japanese haiku, it has become a popular variation to the art of haiku. This is just one of many various forms used in haiku writings. Another style Kiyoko utilized was tanka writings that helped develop her haiku. Within each of Kiyoko’s haiku will be seasonal eliminates and images of her home in Japan to the home in California. The seasons in California are very similar to Japan which is one reason Kiyoko moved to that state. A good example of her using her California surrounds would be: people out walking each one stops the flowering dogwood This dogwood tree must have been amazing for people walking by to just stop and look at the wonders of nature. The visualization shows a strong, healthy dogwood blooming. This also illustrates the seasonal eliminate Kiyoko used and liked to call kigo. This is obviously the beginning of spring with restless people wanting to enjoy the outdoors and the smell of spring. Each time Kiyoko wrote her haiku they showed simple aspects of life that normally would be overlooked, but was captured through her haiku. Kiyoko loved life and valued life which partially came from growing up during the bombing of Nagasaki. Her journeys lead to greater heights that would capture essence of important or rememberable moments. dense fog— far away the city lights flickering The description sets the stage for a beautiful peaceful site. I’m interrupting the far away the city lights to a point looking down and across at the city lights. This might have been a mountain or high hill that allowed you to overlook the city. With the fog setting in the lights would begin to flicker in the night sky. Once again, the seasonal element is present because of Kiyoko’s choice of words. Other times Kiyoko liked to look up in the sky to show her readers the calmness and ability to step out of normal routines to look at nature and its surroundings. This gave her a deeper meaning since no matter where she was Kiyoko was still home in California and Japan. in the winter sky clouds are making their own shapes sun gives full blessing I asked my wife about this haiku which spawned a conversation between how we used to watch the clouds when we were younger. We used to visualize the various shapes and see where our imagination took us. Kiyoko brought back those fond memories of childhood as well as a vacation trip we took. We were flying high in the sky as we looked out over the sky. The clouds were beautifying as the sun broke through the white clouds. Kiyoko gave us a peaceful journey back to times we felt no pressure of the world and only the beauty is possesses. Kiyoko loved her home in Ben Lomond, California. This resides on the West Coast that gave her access to the ocean view and mountains that would stretch for miles. I’m sure this became a sanctuary to just view the mystical mysteries of life. slopes of mountains stretch gently out spring morning sun This haiku I found very interesting in several ways. First, the seasonal element of a spring morning where the sun is gently rising over the snowy slopes of mountains that stretch for the eyes to see. Second, it demonstrates how she loved her hometown and nature that surrounded her life. Finally, the use of the letter “s” at the beginning of each line caught my attention. Now, I’m not sure if this was intenualsal or not, but something I found interesting at the least. It could have been Kiyoko attempting to use the “s” sound to help drive her images deeper into our minds. Since I’m not a haiku scholar, my images of what this haiku means to me will continue to be amazed. During the colder months in California where you can receive rain or snow she captures a site that sometimes we see, but yet we never take the time to simply enjoy. Through Kiyoko’s haiku writings we can sit back and feel the warmth she must have felt or the pleasures she was viewing with her own eyes. from a wooden fence steam rising Ah! the warmth This could have been a cold day after a rain, but I’m visualizing snow. I see snow sitting on an old wooden fence. The sun is beaming down upon it causing the snow to melt and for the fence to allow steam to rise. Kiyoko never forgot to include the seasonal eliminate giving you the sense of belonging. As a child, my grandma and I would rock in her chair looking out her window looking at her old wooden fence post. She would put bird seeds out in the winter time and we would watch the birds eat. We also saw how the steam would rise from the fence and give a rising hazy glow upon the fence. Kiyoko’s haiku really bring back memories of the past and present when you read her work in Kiyoko’s Sky. In the very beginning of this author preview, I presented one of Kiyoko’s haiku. To me this would be a signature haiku that individuals would recognize her work as a haiku artist. at its bottom all things are visible winter river This has duel meaning to me and maybe that is why I enjoyed this haiku as much as I did. Winter time has arrived, and I see a frozen river stream that is crystal clear. The rock formations at the bottom can be seen and maybe fish as well. I know the lake behind my father’s house will allow me to see the fish at the bottom when I’m viewing the strip mined lake from a hill. It’s a beautiful sight to see!! The second meaning to me begins with all three lines. When you are at your bottom in life and all things seem impossible, one can be seen and be given the reassurance of hope, love, and encouragement. I realize that Kiyoko did not mean for a deep meaning on this haiku; however, it brought encouragement to me and a feeling of belonging. It was a sad time when Kiyoko passed, but I feel her memory will last forever in our hearts as her journey just begins. —John LaFollette