Yamaguchi Seison(1892-1988)

<Japanese>

雪かゝり  星かゞやける  聖樹かな

Yuki kakari/ Hoshi kagayakeru/ Seiju kana

<English>

Snow falled onto,

The stars are shining,

The holy tree.

<Japanese>

降誕祭  待つ燭こよひ  ともすなり

Wainahato/ Matsu shoku koyoi/ Tomosu nari

<English>

Weihnacht.

Tonight, the waited candle

Will be burnt light.

<Japanese>

クリスマス  近づく雪の  こよひまた

Kurisumasu/ Chikazuku yuki no/ Koyoi mata

<English>

Farmhouse under Snowy Trees at Evening (Christmas Card, 1946), Kawase Hasui

Christmas

Is drawing near and snowing

Tonight too.

<Japanese>

らふそくの  燃えゆくはたのし  クリスマス

Rousoku no/ Moeyuki ha tanoshi/ Kurisumasu

<English>

It is fun.

The candle is burning.

It’s christmas.

Mitsuhashi Takajo(1899-1972)

<Japanese>

クリスマス  前夜の鐘を  もたいなく

Kurisumasu/ Zen-ya no kane wo/ Motainaku

<English>

Christmas.

The bell of the eve,

It’s grateful.

<Japanese>

クリスマス  胡桃の樹肌  あたたかに

Kurisumasu/ Kurumi no kihada/ Atataka ni

<English>

Christmas.

The bark of the walnut tree

Has the warmth.

Yamaguchi Seishi（1901-1994)

<Japanese>

わらべらに  寝ねどき過ぎぬ  クリスマス

Warabera ni/ Inedoki suginu/ Kurisumasu

<English>

To the children,

“It’s way past your bedtime”

On Christmas.

<Japanese>

昇降機  聖誕祭の  とつくにびとと

Shokoki/ Seitansai no/ Totsukuni bito to

<English>

At the elevator.

For the Christmas party

With people.

<Japanese>

扉のひまに  厨房見ゆる  クリスマス

To no hima ni/ Chubou miyuru/ Kurisumasu

<English>

Through  gap in the door,

I saw the kitchen.

Christmas Day.

Nakamura Kusatao(1901-1983)

<Japanese>

隣人の  戸の音越しに  降誕祭

Rinjin no/ To no oto-goshi ni/ Koutan-sai

<English>

The neighbor’s

Sound through the door.

Christmas.

<Japanese>

前途永き  妻に加護あれ  降誕祭

Zento nagaki/ Tsuma ni kago are/ Koutan-sai

<English>

For her long long future,

May God protect my wife.

Chistmas.

<Japanese>

降誕祭  睫毛は母の  胸こする

Koutan-sai/ Matsuge ha haha no/ Mune kosuru

<English>

Christmas.

The eyelashes brush

Mother’s breast.

Hirahata Seito(1905-1997)

<Japanese>

外套を山羊が銜へてクリスマス

Gaito wo / Yagi ga kuwaete/ Kurisumasu

<English>

A overcoat

Is held in a goat’s mouth.

Christmas.

<Japanese>

白糖を  嘗めクリスマス  礼拝す

Hakuto wo/ Name kurisumasu/ Reihaisu

<English>

I licked

The refine sugar on Christamas

And worshiped.

Ishida Hakyo(1913-1969)

<Japanese>

病棟に  イブの見舞の  はなやげる

Byoutou ni/ Ibu no mimai no/ Hanayageru

<English>

To the ward,

The visitors for Christmas eve

Give brilliant.

*Ishida Hakyo had suffered from the tuberculosis for more than a quarter of a century.

<Japanese>

樹間染め  隣病舎の  聖樹の灯

Jukan some/ Tonari byousha no/ Seiju no hi

<English>

Coloring between the trees,

The next ward’s

The light of the holy tree.

<Japanese>

塩鮭の  からき涙や  クリスマス

Shiosake no/ Karaki namida ya/ Kurisumasu

<English>

The salted salmon’s

The salty tears,

Christmas.