Fifty Haiku from Childhood
“Seashells “by Kumiko Takahashi
Preface
This book contains fifty haiku written by my daughter, Kumiko, between the ages of four and eighteen in Matsuyama, the home of Masaoka Shiki.
These poems were later included in her first haiku collection, Tebukuro no Iro (Colors of Mittens), published in 2013. Since those early years, she has continued to write haiku, carrying the same quiet practice into adulthood.
As I translated these haiku as a Christmas gift for Kumiko this year, I hoped that children, and all who keep a child’s heart, might find moments of peace and wonder in these pages.
This book was originally planned for publication in 2024 in memory of Nobuyuki Takahashi, a haiku poet, the founder of the haiku magazine KAKAN. He was my husband and Kumiko’s father. Having lived through the difficult years following the Second World War and having studied German literature, he passed away on May 24, 2023.
The voices gathered here come from a child observing the world with openness and delight. May these small poems accompany you in quiet moments and remind you of the enduring beauty of ordinary life.
November 6, 2026
Yokohama
Masako Takahas
★★★★★★
Afterword
The haiku in this book come from the first chapter, titled Kaigara (Seashells), of Kumiko’s haiku collection Tebukuro no Iro (Colors of Mittens). This collection, published in 2013, contains 208 haiku.
Most of Kumiko’s original haiku follow the traditional 5-7-5 syllable pattern. However, the English translations are shorter to better fit the natural flow of English. Haiku often capture the beauty of nature and the changing seasons. In Japanese poetry, words representing the seasons—called kigo—help create vivid imagery and evoke feelings. By noticing small details in nature like a falling leaf, a blooming flower, or the sound of rain, haiku invite us to appreciate the world around us more deeply.
Haiku are very short poems. Please enjoy Kumiko’s haiku and try writing your own. Writing haiku is easy—just write a short sentence, as if talking to a family member, teacher, or friend. You can write when you are happy, sad, or curious about something beautiful. You can make haiku anytime. I believe haiku will bring you joy and refresh your heart.
November 6, 2026
Masako Takahashi