Carpe Diem #140, Hamaguri (cherry stone clam)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Another day in haiku land (smiles). Or should I say 'another day in haiku world'? As I look at the contributors to Carpe Diem than they come from everywhere around the globe. It's a honor to host this daily haiku meme and to write an everyday post for you all, my dear friends. This month it's all about classical Japanese kigo and so sometimes you will read about things you didn't know I think. For example our prompt for today, Hamaguri (cherry stone clam) ... I hadn't heard about cherry stone clams, but it seems that hamaguri is a kind of clam, shell, that you can eat.

Hamaguri (cherry stone clam)

So today we are sharing haiku on  Hamaguri (cherry stone clam). I have sought the Ineternet for  some more information about Hamaguri and I found this on Wikipedia: The hamaguri also known as the common orient clam, scientific name Meretrix lusoria, is a species of saltwater clam, a marine bivalvemollusk in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams. This species occurs in Japan. It is commercially exploited for sushi, and its shells are traditionally used to make white go stones.

Hamaguri

It's  used, as you have read aboce, for Sushi, those wonderful little delicacies of Japan. And it's shells are used traditionally for the white Go stones.

Go (Chinese: 圍棋 wéiqí, Japanese: 囲碁 igo, Korean: 바둑 baduk, Vietnamese: cờ vây, common meaning: "encircling game") is a board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,500 years ago. The game is noted for being rich in strategy despite its relatively simple rules. According to chess master Emanuel Lasker: "The rules of Go are so elegant, organic, and rigorously logical that if intelligent life forms exist elsewhere in the universe, they almost certainly play Go."

The two players alternately place black and white playing pieces, called "stones", on the vacant intersections (called "points") of a grid of 19×19 lines (beginners often play on smaller 9×9 and 13×13 boards). The object of the game is to use one's stones to surround a larger total area of the board than the opponent. Once placed on the board, stones may not be moved, but stones are removed from the board if captured. When a game concludes, the controlled points (territory) are counted along with captured stones to determine who has more points. Games may also be won by resignation.

Go originated in ancient China. Archaeological evidence shows that the early game was played on a board with a 17×17 grid, but by the time the game had spread to Korea and Japan, in about the 5th and 7th centuries CE respectively, boards with a 19×19 grid had become standard.

Go game

I love to play Go, but it's not a game that's played by a lot of people in my surroundings. So I can't play it often. I wonder ... can I write a haiku with Go in it and Hamaguri together? Well I have to try of course.

cherry stone clam
delicious for it's taste -
playing Go

playing Go
the sweet memories of clams
once tasted

Well ... this was a challenge for me, but I have succeeded I think. Not a strong set maybe, but it came right from my heart.

I am looking forward to your haiku inspired on Hamaguri (cherry stone clam) ... so have fun, be inspired and creative ... and share your haiku with Carpe Diem.

This prompt will stay on 'till March 10th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new episode, Kiji (pheasant), later on today around 10.00 PM (CET).