Carpe Diem #136, Haru Ichiban (First Spring Gust)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

When I started this daily haiku meme I wasn't aware of the time it would need. Surely this month, with all those classical Japanese kigo for Spring will take time. It's an every day struggle to provide you, my dear friends, with a daily post with some explanation of the kigo. But ... it's a joy to prepare these post every day and I hope that I will be a good host (and haiku master) for you all.
Today we share haiku on Haru Ichiban (First Spring Gust) first I thought this is about rain, but that isn't what is meant with gust, it's about strong wind or storm. Haru Ichiban is the first strong south wind in Spring this is followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th south wind (haru niban, haru sanban and haru yenban). This is usually quite a strong storm or gusty wind on the coast of the East side of Japan, toward the end of February and the beginning of March. It used to be a kind of negative kigo partaining to the hardships of the fishermen in Nagasaki. Later on, it became more positive, since after haru ichiban, we know that Spring is coming.

Credits: Ukai, cormorant fishing

Japanese cormorant fishers use wild-caught cormorants (birds) to catch fish and deliver them to their handlers. This unusual fishery has been practiced in several parts of the world, including Japan, China, Europe and Peru. In Japan, cormorant fishing is known as ukai. These fishers have practiced their craft for at least 1,300 years and were noted in the earliest Japanese records (Taihou Ritsuryou no Koseki, Legal Code and Family Records, 702 AD, and the Kojiki, Record of Ancient Matters, 712 AD)

I haven't found a haiku on haru ichiban, but I found a wonderful haiku written by Buson about 'fisherman':

tsuribitono jouno kowasayo yuushigure

The old fisherman
unalterably intent . . .
Cold evening rain

When I sought the Internet I ran into this wonderful haiku about haru ichiban I don't know who wrote it, I couldn't retrieve the haiku poet of this one:

strong yet a warm wind
can`t escape from the loud noise
haru ichiban

It's a nice haiku and I hope that the poet who has written it will forgive me using it.

Another one written by Madoka Mayuzumi:

Haru ichiban ashita no watashi o tsurete kuru

Accompanying
spring's first storm the person
I can be tomorrow

Well ... now I have to write a new haiku on haru ichiban ... I will try to ...

first southern wind
makes the fisherman anxious -
Spring is coming

Spring is coming
with the first southern wind
scent of Cherry blossom

I am glad, so glad to see that I have conquered this classical Japanese kigo, haru ichiban, for Spring. I hope that you all are inspired and I am looking forward to the haiku you have written on haru ichiban (first Spring gust).

This prompt will stay on 'till March 5th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new episode, Usurai (thin ice),  later on today around 10.00 PM (CET). Have fun, be inspired and share ... have a good day.