Takahama-cho(Ebisu Shrine)

"The first spring tide
the wave break over the pine tree
on the Shiju-shima Island"
(Shiki)

This Haiku appeared in "Kanzan Rakuboku";the section of Astronomy and Geography, in autumn of 1892(Meiji 25). The enlargement of Shiki's own hand writing.
The first spring tide is also called "hazuki-shio - August Tide" ; the spring tide of 15th Aug. in the lunar calendar.
Takahama is the port with beautiful sunset. Shiju-shima Island is floating as it were "bonseki"(a small landscape constructed of sand and stones on a tray), with the Gogo-shima Island for the background and a atoll that is as small as the wave break over it.
In 1st, May of 1892, Iyo Railway line was extended to Takahama from Mitsu and "Enrei-kan" was built for the seabathers. Shiki often visited this place for pleasant with Kyoshi, Hekigotou, Soseki and others.
A small blue island covered by only stones and pine trees in the Soseki's novel of "botchan" was this Shiju-shima Island.
We'd like to referre to the scene in "Botchan";
" "Look at that pine tree! A trunk of the tree is straight and the top of it is spread out as an umbrella. It seems to be appeared in the picture by Turner(1775 - 1851, a water-color painter of England)" said "Akashatsu" to "Noda". Then Noda said in a knowing manner, "The way of the turning trunk is really unique! That pine tree is the spitting image of Turner's picture." " So that, the another name of Shiju-shima Island is "Turner Island".
The beautiful pine tree appeared in this Haiku had already withered, but it is going to be brought to life by the charitable person.