RecentWords2019

This is a haiku by the wandering poet, Santoka Taneda(種田 山頭火,1882-1940). This poem is accompanied by another: "High in the sky, I partake of my bento (弁当 - lunch box)." It is a comforting verse that brings to mind the image of white rice sparkling under the crisp, clear blue sky of autumn.

During his journeys in an era that was far from convenient, he composed many haiku expressing his hardships. And yet, this particular poem is brimming with profound affection and light. Why is that?

Perhaps, at that moment, he realized that he—who was about to eat the meal—was part of a vast, interconnected web of life, linked to the people who grew the grains of rice, those who cooked it, and those who prepared his bento. Enveloped in the warm sunlight, he must have deeply felt that "even though I am alone, I am not isolated."

Now, let us turn our eyes to the modern world. Due to declining birth rates, an aging population, and people marrying later in life, single-person households continue to rise, now making up about 30 percent of the total population. In retrospect, the illusion brought about by rapid economic growth and modernization was the belief that "we can live prosperously all by ourselves." Despite our inability to survive truly alone, our modern history seems to be a process of intentionally inviting loneliness as the price for convenience.

Even today, the light shines upon us all, everywhere. Every day, the food prepared by someone, somewhere, lines our dining tables. As we begin the new year, I wish to put my hands together in deep gratitude for the countless connections and endeavors of life that sustain me.