New Rice

Haiku composed in autumn 1776 by Buson Yosa who has ties to Yosano Town. “Shiga no Sato” refers to northern Otsu in Shiga Prefecture.
　On warm autumn days, the azaleas may bloom in reverse or even twice. Certain azaleas even bloom in both spring and fall. Buson encountered the “tama-tama” azalea that bloomed unusually in autumn.
　Yosano’s famous azalea spot is Ungan where the flowers blooms in April. The entire mountain is colored with azaleas. In autumn, before the illumination, the local people clean up the mountain. The autumn leaves above their heads are perhaps the second blooming of the mountain’s azaleas.

Assisted by: Tanka and Haiku Museum
Yosano Municipal Kozan Bunko