Kiyoshi's Diary

Patricia Machmiller delivering an address about the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society 

to the Haiku International Association during our trip to Japan in 2007.

A photograph of one of our founders, Kiyoshi Tokutomi, is projected behind her.

Among Kiyoko's papers we found a diary which Kiyoshi kept from July 1975--December, 1977. This was during the time that the Haiku Society was formed in San Jose. Much of the diary consists of simple lists of daily activities undertaken by Kiyoshi and Kiyoko. Reading this diary, (available on Amazon at this link) which has been translated by Tei Matsushita Scott, with addendum by Patricia Machmiller, gives one a sense of the pure and sweet daily spirit he had, despite his severe health challenges. Machmiller's introduction gives a brief overview of his very eventful life.

Here is a diary entry that mentions one of our early meetings.

April 2, 1977

- Kiyoko went to the Japanese School but came home early due to her cold.

- Regular meeting of the English Haiku Group. Submitted five English haiku of which one received four points and one three points.

- Conferred with Dr. Falkowski about the Yukuharu Journal (Haiku Journal?).

= Attended Japanese kukai in the evening. (A kukai is a peer-reviewed poetry contest.)s

                                                 (op. cit. page 53)

at the waterfall

sometimes I feel an answer

sometimes . . . the wind

Patricia J. Machmiller, U.S.A.

This haiku won one of the awards from HIA in 2007.