Ogaki

Ogaki, Japan, 1689

The final stop of Oku no Hosomichi, the Journey to the Northern Interior. Ogaki is in Gifu Prefecture (then Mino Province), west of Nagoya. If there is a historical reason for chosing this spot, it is this. On the 15th day of the 9th month, the Battle of Sekigahara (関ヶ原の戦い) took place in western Mino Province. The victory of Tokugawa Ieyasu eventually led to the Tokugawa Shogunate and the beginning of the Edo Period.

Basho’s only hint as to why the journey ended here is in closing haiku — yuki aki zo, autumn is passing by. If one plays word games then consider this. Yuki may mean happiness, 幸 (yuki) or snow, 雪. Combined, 由 (yu) meaning “reason” with 貴 (ki), it can mean it a “good reason” to stop.

Oku no Hosomichi

From Basho’s notes: Ogaki

The 21st day of the 8th lunar month, arrived Ogaki. My followers gather to work.

On the 6th day of the 9th lunar month, Basho sets off by boat, “I am going to Ise to visit the Grand Shrine.”

When clams split in two, autumn is passing
hamaguri no / futami ni wakare / yuku aki zo

Oku no Hosomichi, last entry, Matsuo Basho, 1689

Note on Translation. Monjin, 門()人, borrowed from the Chinese, meaning a disciple, follower, pupil, or student. Figuratively, one who waits at the gate.

Japanese

大垣

8月21日頃、大垣に到着。
門人たちが集い労わる。

9月6日　芭蕉は「伊勢の遷宮をおがまんと、また船に乗り」出発する。

蛤（はまぐり）の　ふたみにわかれ行く　秋ぞ

Note on dates. The Japanese lunar month was about a month earlier than our modern calendar.