Attractions around Kitasenju-3 artworks-

Whenever someone achieves something or takes on a challenge, it is because they first had the courage to take that very first step—only then does success await. It was Matsuo Bashō who elevated haiku from a light, playful verse form into one of Japan’s most celebrated literary traditions.

Old pond—
a frog leaps in,
sound of water.

This verse, one of Bashō’s masterpieces, is also among the most famous haiku in Japanese literature. While many might have focused on depicting the frog itself, Bashō shifted attention to the sound of water, perfectly aligning the visual scene with its accompanying sound.

Born into a farming family, Bashō devoted himself to haiku from an early age. Through his deep insights into nature and human life, he transformed haiku into a more profound literary form, infusing it with the philosophy of fueki ryūkō—a fusion of tradition and innovation. This principle values that which is timeless and unchanging, while also embracing new developments that arise with the changing times.

In this way, Matsuo Bashō became one of the greatest figures in elevating haiku to a globally respected literary art. In his later years, he traveled extensively, producing travel journals—most famously The Narrow Road to the Deep North. This work remains beloved today, inspiring a wide variety of related content across different fields. The journey began in Senju, which is why several monuments dedicated to Bashō can still be found there today.