Nakamura Kusatao(1901-1983)
This Haiku Monument was built on the 4th August, 1983 in Shinonome Park, Matsuyama.
In this year, Kusatao was baptized on his deathbed and died of acute pneumonia on the following day, the 5th, August, aged 82.
"The cherry blossoms are in full bloom in the twilight,and
The stone wall is tinged with more and more deep color
As the bottom edge"
This haiku is the one of the Haiku poetry "Chohshi-the first-born child"(1936). He originated this Haiku in 1934, when he returned to his hometown, Matsuyama.
We can't catch now sight of not only castle but also stone wall from this point, but these days, stone wall seemed to be in sight.
The member of the Haiku Journal "Banryoku-all over fresh greenery" edited by Kusatao, built this monument by united efforts of them. The unveiling ceremony was plan to held on 6th August, but because of Kusatao's urgent death, it was postponed until the following year, August.
Kusatao had Kyoshi Takahama for his teacher, and studied under Shuohshi Mizuhara. After the publishing his Haiku poetry "Chohshi", his Haiku fashion showed the bitter struggles to come in contact deeply with human life, his fashion was called "the group of inquiring about human being".
He wrote the lyrics for the school song of Matsuyama Kita Highschool in connection with Denzaburo Futagami(a one-time principal of the Highschool) who was same class at the Highschool."I visited this island once And again as if waves would come he I hear grasshoppers chirping"The name of the monthly magazine "Banryoku" edited by Kusatao was connected with the Haiku "My own child's teeth have began to come through in all over fresh greenery" appeared in Haiku poetry "HinoTori-fire bird"(published in 1939).
"Banryoku" have been established as a season word after this Haiku.
In adition to that, this Haiku magazine edited by Kusatao has symbolized the group of people with eternal youthful spirits and has been keeping up the steady pace as avan-garde literature until today.
