Waka Poems Featured in
Berabou
In Episode 20 of the 2025 NHK historical drama Berabou, Jūzaburō (Ryūsei Yokohama) is invited by Ōta Nanpo (Kenta Kiritani) and takes part in a kyōka (comic poetry) gathering. Two of the poems composed there were based on poems from the Hyakunin Isshu.
The Kyōka of Akera Kankō (Bun'ichi Hamanaka)
This poem is based on Hyakunin Isshu Poem 92, Sanuki, attendant to retired Emperor Nijō.
In Japanese
わが恋は 鰻の桶の 見えぬ桶のうちの
ぬらぬらふらふら 乾く間もなし wagakoiha unaginookeno mienuokenouchino
nuranurafurafura kawakumamonashi Akera Kankō (Bun'ichi Hamanaka)
In English
My favorite eels are gone, and the woman I loved has left me too. Only I go on wandering, wet, with never a moment to dry.
In Japanese
わが袖は 潮干に見えぬ 沖の石の
人こそ知らね かわくまもなし wagasodeha shihohinimienu okinoishino
hitokososhirane kawakumamonashi Hyakunin Isshu Poem 92, Sanuki, attendant to retired Emperor Nijō
In English
My sleeves are like a rock hidden beneath the tides — unseen by others, they are never dry.
The Kyōka of Tsuchiyama Sōjirō / Keishō Naran (Shuntarō Yanagi)
This poem is based on Hyakunin Isshu Poem 97, Acting Middle Counselor Sadaie.
In Japanese
来ぬ人を 待つほど恨む 夕鰻は
焼くやも塩か タレ惑いつつ konuhitoo matsuhodouramu yuuunagiha
yakuyamoshioka taremadoitsutsu Keishō Naran (Shuntarō Yanagi)
In English
The evening eel, growing bitter as it waits for one who does not come, frets in confusion: will it be grilled with salt, or with sauce?
In Japanese
来ぬ人を 松帆の浦の 夕なぎに
焼くやもしほの 身もこがれつつ konuhitoo matsuhonourano yuunagini
yakuyamoshihono mimokogaretsutsu Hyakunin Isshu Poem 97, Acting Middle Counselor Sadaie
In English
Waiting for someone who will not come, at the quiet evening shore — like salt burned from the seaweed, I too am consumed by longing.
The Kyōka of Yomo no Akara / Ōta Nanpo (Kenta Kiritani)
This poem has nothing to do with the Hyakunin Isshu, but it is woven with clever wordplay. It plays on ana ("hole," a word associated with eels) and the exclamation ana ("ah!"); on the imo ("yam") of the proverb "a mountain yam turns into an eel" and imose ("lovers"); on the eel being split open and lovers being split apart; and on burning with longing and the eel being grilled (kogasu, "to scorch") as kabayaki.
In Japanese
あな鰻 いづくの山の いもとせを
さかれて後に 身を焦がすとは anaunagi izukunoyamano imotoseo
sakaretenochini miokogasutoha Yomo no Akara / Ōta Nanpo (Kenta Kiritani)
In English
Ah, the eel! Who knows from what mountain's yam it came? Split open like lovers torn apart, and still burning with longing as it is grilled: how cruel.
Poems in Episode 14 of Berabou
In Episode 14 of Berabou, there was a scene in which the masters of the Yoshiwara houses traded poems that parodied the Hyakunin Isshu. In the Edo period, there were schools called terakoya all over Japan, where reading, writing, arithmetic, and more were taught. The Hyakunin Isshu was used there as a textbook, so it seems to have been very familiar to people of the time.
Ritsu's Poem (Yumi Adachi)
This poem is based on Hyakunin Isshu Poem 9, Ono no Komachi.
In Japanese
店の場所 うつらんとてか 家田屋に
わが身世にふる ながめ狭しに misenobasho utsurantoteka iedayani
wagamiyonifuru nagamesemashini Ritsu (Yumi Adachi)
In English
You're moving the shop to Iedaya's place!? It's gotten too cramped, hasn't it.
In Japanese
花の色は うつりにけりな いたづらに
わが身よにふる ながめせしまに hananoiroha utsurinikerina itazurani
wagamiyonifuru nagameseshimani Hyakunin Isshu Poem 9, Ono no Komachi
In English
How the beauty of the cherry blossoms faded away, soaked by the long spring rains. And just like them, my own looks have faded too, lost in a haze of endless longing.
Jūzaburō's Poem (Ryūsei Yokohama)
This poem is based on Hyakunin Isshu Poem 86, Priest Saigyō.
In Japanese
嘆けとて 茶屋か本屋か 惑わする
かこち顔なる わが馴染みかな nageketote chayakahonyaka madowasuru
kakochigaonaru waganajimikana Tsutaya Jūzaburō (Ryūsei Yokohama)
In English
The customers are confused too: they can't tell whether it's a teahouse or a bookshop.
In Japanese
嘆けとて 月やは物を 思はする
かこち顔なる わが涙かな nageketote tsukiyahamonoo omohasuru
kakochigahonaru waganamidakana Hyakunin Isshu Poem 86, Priest Saigyō
In English
Did the moon ask me to grieve? These tears on my face — it is as if I am blaming the moon for making me feel this way.
Chōjiya Chōjūrō's Poem (Hideomi Shima)
This poem is based on Hyakunin Isshu Poem 48, Minamoto no Shigeyuki.
In Japanese
金の痛み 浅草紙の 己の身
破けてものを 思うことかも kanenoitami asakusagamino onorenomi
yabuketemonoo omoukotokamo Chōjiya Chōjūrō (Hideomi Shima)
In English
What are you going to do about the money!? It'll be too late once you've gone bust!
In Japanese
風をいたみ 岩うつ波の おのれのみ
くだけて物を 思ふころかな kazeoitami ihautsunamino onorenomi
kudaketemonoo omofukorokana Hyakunin Isshu Poem 48, Minamoto no Shigeyuki
In English
Like the waves crashing against the rocks in the fierce wind, I alone am broken to pieces by this sorrow.
Tsutaya Jūzaburō's Poem (Ryūsei Yokohama)
This poem is based on Hyakunin Isshu Poem 41, Mibu no Tadami.
In Japanese
富本本 我が名はまだき 立ちにけり
稽古本もと 思ひそめしか tomimotobon waganahamadaki tachinikeri
keikobonmoto omoisomeshika Tsutaya Jūzaburō (Ryūsei Yokohama)
In English
My name has already gotten around thanks to the Tomimoto books, so next I'm thinking of practice books!
In Japanese
恋すてふ 我が名はまだき 立ちにけり
人しれずこそ 思ひそめしか kohisutefu waganahamadaki tachinikeri
hitoshirezukoso omohisomeshika Hyakunin Isshu Poem 41, Mibu no Tadami
In English
They say my name as a lover is already known far and wide, even before the affair began. I had kept it so quietly in my heart.
Ōgiya Uemon's Poem (Kazuhiro Yamaji)
This poem is based on Hyakunin Isshu Poem 99, Retired Emperor Go-Toba.
In Japanese
ならばよし ならば後押し 憂ひなく
吉原ゆゑに もの思ふ身は narabayoshi narabaatooshi ureinaku
yoshiwarayueni monoomoumiha Ōgiya Uemon (Kazuhiro Yamaji)
In English
Well, if that's the case, fine! I'll back you up, for the Yoshiwara's sake too.
In Japanese
人もをし 人もうらめし あぢきなく
世を思ふゆゑに 物思ふ身は hitomooshi hitomourameshi ajikinaku
yooomofuyueeni monoomofumiha Hyakunin Isshu Poem 99, Retired Emperor Go-Toba
In English
I find people both dear and hateful. It is because I care so deeply about this troubled world that I am always lost in thought.