Utakai Hajime

The Ceremony of New Year's Poetry Reading "Utakai Hajime" was held on 14th January at Imperial Palace.

This ceremony is to introduce Waka poems of Imperial Family and selected 10 poems made by ordinary people.
People can apply for the ceremony with their own Waka poems in line with the year's theme.

This year, the theme was "Light" and 23,346 poems were apllied for the ceremony. It is very hard competition!

In the ceremony, Waka poems of people and Imperial Family were introduced in very traditional way.

You can know what "Utakai Hajime" is at Website of Imperial Household Agency.

You can also check the poems made by HIM Emperor, HIM Empress, HIH Crown Prince and HIH Crown Princess.

I was impressed by the Waka poem of blind woman, Ms. Moriwaki in Osaka. Ms. Moriwaki explained that "Light" means the People supporting her including her family.

(in Japanese)
Waga Omo wa,
Hikari ni muite irurashiki,
chikadukite ko wa,
shutter wo osu

(translation)
My face may be in the direction to the light,
my son came near to me and took the picture of me.

I was also impressed by the poem of HIM Empress. I think it symbolizes her life. I guess that she expressed her some hope for the future even though her life is "at the approach of evening" now.

(In Japanese)
Kimi to yuku
Michi no hatate no
To-o shiroku
Yugurete nao
Hikari arurashi

(Translation)
As I walk by your side
The path stretches far ahead
Though it is now evening
Yonder in the distance
A glow of a lingering light.


You can see how it goes in Utakai Hajime. I'm sorry that it is about the ceremony last year.
It is very weighty ceremony.


Waka Poem of HIM Empress


Waka Poem of HIM Emperor