Haiku
Japanese Living

Haiku is a highly stylized and refined form of Japanese poetry, in which the poet aspires to express deep and spontaneous insights about nature and human life. The haiku always consists of seventeen syllables, arranged in three lines, the first of five syllables, the second of seven and the last of five. It is traditional to use the name of a flower, animal, custom or event which envokes the feeling of a particular season. Basho (1644-1694) is considered the father and greatest exponent of haiku in its present form.

Relevance to Maison Ikkoku

Fans of Maison Ikkoku know that Yotsuya has become a master of haiku in his own right.