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fingers wiggeling
in the autumn air <>
Japanese haiku meeting

One of the endearing features of a haiku meeting (ku-kai) in Japan is
everybody sitting around counting on their fingers, usually of the
left hand. After all 5 7 5 is still very much en vouge in Japanese
Haiku, despite some free verse and other movements.

Anyway, today I do not want to engage in the discussion of counting
like an abacus or not, rather on counting with your fingers as a
culturally amazing event.

How do you count with your fingers?
One, two, three, for your THREE, three fingers sticking out?
Right! But Wrong in Japan!

Here is how the Japanese count with one hand,usually the left.
Palm facing your face, all fingers stretched out is the start.

ONE: Fold your thumb towards the palm of your hand.
TWO: Fold your pointer finger over the thumb.
THREE: Fold your middle finger over the thumb, joining the pointer.
>>> So your three looks like three fingers folded, not sticking out !
Surprise!

FOUR: the ring finger (called <>medicine finger<> in Japanese), is
folded.
FIVE: the little finger is folded, so NONE is sticking out.

Now still using the same hand with all fingers folded, here we go
again:

SIX: the little finger is sticking out again. (This is also a sign
indicating a girlfriend of a married manˇÄ:o) )
SEVEN: the ring finger is sticking out again.

Thus the middle line of a haiku is completed. :o)

http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa112198.htm

For me, observing cultural differences is always quite fascinating.
So is the development of haiku in various culture spheres and
languages.

Five <> seven <> five suits the Japanese Language, but does not come
naturally in many other languages, as I have been musing about
elsewhere.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/happyhaiku/message/274

Enjoy your haiku, wiggeling your fingers.
Gabi san