初富士【はつふじ】 hatsu fuji first Mt. Fuji [that is, seeing Mt. Fuji for the first time on or soon after New Year's Day]
On New Year's Day, one wants to see Mount Fuji. From olden times, Mt. Fuji has been a symbol of
Japan, and it has long been said in the Kantō region (Tokyo and vicinity) that one must see Mt.
Fuji on New Year's Day. In other regions, other mountains are associated with similar feelings, generating
additional season words; for example, "first Mt. Tsukuba" (初筑波【はつつくば】 hatsu tsukuba),
"first Mt. Hiei" (初比叡【はつひえい】 hatsu hiei), and so on. In addition to their
beauty to the eye, this feeling seems to derive from the deep-seated sense that mountains, particularly
high conical mountains, are holy ground.
"The grass cottage" suggests that Kyoshi has become something of a recluse, with little care
for the world. Nevertheless, when he pokes his head out to take a look at Mt. Fuji on the first day of
the year, he cannot help but go out into that world to fully appreciate the vision of the mountain. Alternatively,
we might think that he intended to go out on some errands--New Year's visits, perhaps--but stopped still
at the tenth pace from the door, held there by the view of Mt. Fuji. Either way, we understand that the
mountain has him in its power.
天の原初富士の吹雪ながれやまず
渡辺水巴
ama no hara hatsu fuji no fubuki nagareyamazu
the plains of heaven:
first Fuji and a snowstorm
flow endlessly
Watanabe Suiha
初富士のかなしきまでに遠きかな
山口青邨
hatsu fuji no kanashiki made ni tōki kana
first Mt. Fuji
until I have become sad
at such a distance
Yamaguchi Seison
初富士にかくすべき身もなかりけり
中村汀女
hatsu fuji ni kakusubeki mi mo nakarikeri
in first Fuji
I should hide myself
utterly disappear
Nakamura Teijo
初富士や草庵を出て十歩なる
高濱虚子
hatsu fuji ya sōan o dete juppo naru
first Mt. Fuji . . .
going out of the grass cottage
becomes ten steps
Takahama Kyoshi
