２０１７年（平成２９年）５月１５日の葵祭り
The Aoi Matsuri Festival in Kyoto.
May 15, 2017 (The 29th year of Heisei era.)

(Shuzo version)
我が友の　送りし平成　初夏の風
わが とも の　おくりし へいせい　しょか の かぜ

(Jim version)
pictures remind me
parading timeless beauty
Kyoto’s pride for all

　小学校時代の友人が、葵祭りの写真を送ってくれました。
葵小学校に通っていた頃、下鴨神社の境内や雑草に覆われた
糺の森のデコボコ道を暗くなるまで自転車で走り回ったものです。
下鴨神社は、世界遺産にならはって、えろう立派におなりやけど
地味で素朴な以前の姿が目に浮かび、思わずクスッとわろてしまいます。
そやけど、祭りの風情は、寸分違わず昔のままや。。。
京都も、いよいよ、初夏です。

My friend from elementary school in Kyoto saw the Aoi Matsuri Festival（葵祭　あおいまつり）, and I received wonderful pictures from him. The Aoi Matsuri is one of Kyoto’s three most famous festivals. When I was an Aoi elementary school student, I rode my bicycle and ran around with friends in the grounds of Shimogamo Shrine（下鴨神社　しもがも じんじゃ）. These photos remind me of the scenery. Shimogamo Shrine became a World Heritage Site and it’s very respectable, but before that, it looked humble and simple. So, when I think of it, I smile to myself. Even so, the scenery of the Aoi Matsuri Festival looks the same as before, which is very graceful and magnificent! It’s the beginning of summer in Kyoto.

Collaborative Haiku Poem
– Shuzo Nakamura and Jim Woodhull
– Photo by Makoto Okamura