Yamaguchi Seishi Haiku Monument

Two stone monuments next to the Itadori River commemorate a visit to Mino in 1956 by haiku poet Yamaguchi Seishi (1901–1994). Yamaguchi is considered one of the leading lights of twentieth-century haiku. His work is characterized by modern imagery drawn from daily life. His haiku poems often use colloquial language to create slices of life, like scenes from a movie. While in Mino, Yamaguchi wrote a haiku about making washi. His words capture the dedication of the papermaker, who puts heart and soul into each sheet. This haiku is inscribed on one of the monuments: ichi-mai o nenzuru gotoku kami sukikeri Sheet by sheet Screened with Heart and soul