A Japanese blogger has written 77 haiku-style poems in five days, drawing an unexpected parallel between his creative process and a basketball player’s reflexes. The writer documented a series of creative excursions, or "gin-kō," across several locations, culminating in a challenge to compose poetry at one of the country's most barren areas.
The blogger undertook three separate gin-kō sessions between October 30 and November 5. This initial spark set off a rapid-fire creative process, with the blogger noting that "once you start writing, it's like kappaebisen pulling you along, one poem after another."
From Spontaneous Walks to a Daily Routine
The blogger’s approach is deeply intertwined with his need for regular content for his site. He has developed a habit of seeking out a new theme each day, and the gin-kō has proven to be a reliable method. “For the blog, gin-kō is a quick and reliable source of material,” he wrote. “It’s something I create myself, not something I have to hope for from others.”
His process is not purely poetic. A successful post, he explained, relies on a three-part formula: photography, prose, and haiku. While a dedicated haiku master might focus solely on the verse, this blogger crafts a complete package. He believes that even if the quality of the haiku is not exceptional, strong visuals and well-written text can make for an engaging post, especially when the poems are scattered across the page for visual effect.
This practical approach extends to his on-the-ground methodology. He carries a notebook in one hand and a pen in the other, constantly observing his surroundings, switching to a camera when an image catches his eye. In a bustling place like Tenka City, where “there are many things and people are moving,” he is “desperate” to capture both words and pictures. This leaves no time for deep contemplation.
The Basketball Analogy: A Game of Instincts
“It’s like being a basketball player,” the blogger wrote, comparing his creative flow to athletic performance. “You catch the ball, pass it to a teammate. You run, stop, shoot. You block an opponent… No player does any of this by thinking about it step-by-step. Their bodies move reflexively.”
He sees his gin-kō in the same light. It is a matter of immediate reaction: when he sees something, he writes it down. The notebook fills with words, which in turn serve as an “assist” not only for crafting haiku but also for writing prose. To increase his output, he relies on a fundamental structure learned from a mentor, Shōko Fujita. This involves creating short, five-seven or seven-five syllable phrases and adding a seasonal keyword. “It’s like solving a 5-7-5 puzzle,” he described. “Therefore, what is written needs a fermentation period. If you remember something next year, you can then focus and refine it. To rush and submit it right away is naive.”
The blogger also acknowledged the difficulty of juggling photography and poetry simultaneously. He expressed a desire to delegate the photography, imagining a scenario where a skilled photographer could capture a scene of “tree shadows” or a “duck’s flutter” that surpasses his own imagination. The quality of the resulting image, he believes, could push the quality of the haiku higher, as one wouldn’t want a poem that is “defeated by the image.”
A Challenge in the Most Barren Area
This brings him to his ultimate test: the ninety-nine ri beach, or “Kujūkurihama.” The blogger posits that this vast, windswept stretch of coastline may be the ultimate gin-kō location. The reason is its starkness. “Here there are almost no eye-catchers,” he wrote. “No ducks, no sake, no rice fields, no trees. Just waves, sand, clouds, wind, a dead crab, and shells. It can be called a bleak area, with only a wide-open sea and sky.”
Unlike the more dramatic coast of Izu, with its rugged rocks, small islands, and passing ships, Kujūkurihama is flat. Its shallow waters mean no boats approach. The central question becomes: what kind of poetry can be written in a place with so little to see? “You probably can’t do a gin-kō here where points go in like in basketball,” he mused. “What can you write in an 逆境, a 逆境 of few things?”
It is in this context of confronting a visual void that the blogger considers a reunion with a person he has not seen in 30 years. He contemplates sending a “love letter” with a simple question: “Won’t you enjoy the bleak landscape with me?” The invitation frames the challenge not as a limitation, but as a unique artistic opportunity to find poetry in the absence of conventional beauty.
The blogger sees his creative process as a game of instinct, much like a basketball player’s on-court reflexes.
FAQ: Understanding the Blogger’s Creative Challenge
What is “gin-kō”?
Gin-kō is a Japanese term for a creative excursion or walking trip, specifically for the purpose of gathering inspiration for writing, particularly poetry. It involves visiting a place and composing verses based on direct observation and experience.
Who is the author of this blog?
The author is a Japanese blogger. The article focuses on his personal creative methods and reflections, without providing his real name.
What is the “E-difficulty” location mentioned?
The “E-difficulty” (E難度) refers to the writer’s own personal classification of a location’s creative challenge level. Kujūkurihama is described as an E-difficulty site, signifying a high-level challenge due to its minimal visual stimuli, requiring a different kind of perception to find poetic material.
What is the connection to basketball?
The blogger uses basketball as a metaphor for his creative process. Just as a basketball player reacts to the game’s flow without conscious thought, the writer reacts to his surroundings during a gin-kō, capturing images and words through instinct and reflex rather than deliberate, slow composition.
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