End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models

Osamu Okumura; Shuichi Ōhashi

doi:doi:10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11

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End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models

Osamu Okumura^*, Shuichi Ōhashi

Published in Languages, Literatures and Cultures (Volume 2, Issue 1)

Received: 12 November 2025 Accepted: 27 November 2025 Published: 29 December 2025

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Abstract

This research examines three haiku from Matsuo Bashō's masterwork Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North): "Inochi futatsu no naka ni ikitaru sakura kana" (Living within two lives-the cherry blossoms), "Hamaguri no futami ni wakare yuku aki zo" (Like a clam's shell at Futami, we part as autumn departs), and "Araumi ya Sado ni yokotau Amanogawa" (Turbulent seas-stretching toward Sado, the Milky Way). We employ PlantUML C4 models to conduct a structural analysis of these haiku. By applying the four abstraction layers of the C4 model (Context, Container, Component, and Code) to haiku interpretation, we systematically visualize the elements of end-of-life contemplation (shūkatsu) and well-being embedded within these poems. Our analysis reveals common themes across all three haiku: acceptance of the duality of life and death, re-recognition of relationships, and transcendence through devotion to nature-all core elements of spiritual well-being in the context of preparing for life's end. This methodology demonstrates the potential to rediscover the contemporary value of classical literature and suggests applications for practical end-of-life support. The findings provide a structured framework for understanding how poetic forms can encapsulate profound existential insights, offering valuable perspectives for both literary studies and contemporary well-being practices.

Published in	Languages, Literatures and Cultures (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11
Page(s)	1-16
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Matsuo Bashō, Oku No Hosomichi, End-of-life Planning (Shūkatsu), Well-being, PlantUML, C4 Model, Haiku Analysis, Views on Life and Death

References

[1]	Matsuo Bashō (ca. 1702) Oku no Hosomichi (Modern translation: Toshisada Nakamura, ed., Bashō Haiku Collection, Iwanami Bunko, 1989).
[2]	Ogata, Tsutomu (1994) Complete Collection of Bashō's Haiku, Kadokawa Sophia Bunko.
[3]	Fukumoto, Ichiro (2007) Reading Oku no Hosomichi, Iwanami Seminar Books.
[4]	Simon Brown (2018) The C4 model for visualising software architecture, https://c4model.com/
[5]	PlantUML Official Documentation, https://plantuml.com/
[6]	Shimazono, Susumu (2018) Japanese Views on Life and Death, Iwanasha.
[7]	Raphael Di Terra & Robert McClure Canning (2021) Design Theory of Well-Being, BNN.
[8]	Maeno, Takashi (2023) Well-Being, Nikkei Publishing.
[9]	Viktor E. Frankl (1956/2002) Man's Search for Meaning, Misuzu Shobo.
[10]	Alfons Deeken (2001) How to Face Death, NHK Publishing.
[11]	Shimizu, Tetsuro (2017) Living in an Aging Society: Those Who Age, Those Who Witness Death, Nihon Hyoronsha.
[12]	Kato, Shuichi (1997) Introduction to Japanese Literary History, Chikuma Shobo.
[13]	Konishi, Jinichi (1985) Japanese Literary History, Kodansha Gakujutsu Bunko.

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APA Style

Okumura, O., Ōhashi, S. (2025). End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models. Languages, Literatures and Cultures, 2(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11

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ACS Style

Okumura, O.; Ōhashi, S. End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2025, 2(1), 1-16. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11

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AMA Style

Okumura O, Ōhashi S. End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models. Lang Lit Cult. 2025;2(1):1-16. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11

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@article{10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11,
  author = {Osamu Okumura and Shuichi Ōhashi},
  title = {End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models},
  journal = {Languages, Literatures and Cultures},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.llc.20260201.11},
  abstract = {This research examines three haiku from Matsuo Bashō's masterwork Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North): "Inochi futatsu no naka ni ikitaru sakura kana" (Living within two lives-the cherry blossoms), "Hamaguri no futami ni wakare yuku aki zo" (Like a clam's shell at Futami, we part as autumn departs), and "Araumi ya Sado ni yokotau Amanogawa" (Turbulent seas-stretching toward Sado, the Milky Way). We employ PlantUML C4 models to conduct a structural analysis of these haiku. By applying the four abstraction layers of the C4 model (Context, Container, Component, and Code) to haiku interpretation, we systematically visualize the elements of end-of-life contemplation (shūkatsu) and well-being embedded within these poems. Our analysis reveals common themes across all three haiku: acceptance of the duality of life and death, re-recognition of relationships, and transcendence through devotion to nature-all core elements of spiritual well-being in the context of preparing for life's end. This methodology demonstrates the potential to rediscover the contemporary value of classical literature and suggests applications for practical end-of-life support. The findings provide a structured framework for understanding how poetic forms can encapsulate profound existential insights, offering valuable perspectives for both literary studies and contemporary well-being practices.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models
AU  - Osamu Okumura
AU  - Shuichi Ōhashi
Y1  - 2025/12/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11
T2  - Languages, Literatures and Cultures
JF  - Languages, Literatures and Cultures
JO  - Languages, Literatures and Cultures
SP  - 1
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11
AB  - This research examines three haiku from Matsuo Bashō's masterwork Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North): "Inochi futatsu no naka ni ikitaru sakura kana" (Living within two lives-the cherry blossoms), "Hamaguri no futami ni wakare yuku aki zo" (Like a clam's shell at Futami, we part as autumn departs), and "Araumi ya Sado ni yokotau Amanogawa" (Turbulent seas-stretching toward Sado, the Milky Way). We employ PlantUML C4 models to conduct a structural analysis of these haiku. By applying the four abstraction layers of the C4 model (Context, Container, Component, and Code) to haiku interpretation, we systematically visualize the elements of end-of-life contemplation (shūkatsu) and well-being embedded within these poems. Our analysis reveals common themes across all three haiku: acceptance of the duality of life and death, re-recognition of relationships, and transcendence through devotion to nature-all core elements of spiritual well-being in the context of preparing for life's end. This methodology demonstrates the potential to rediscover the contemporary value of classical literature and suggests applications for practical end-of-life support. The findings provide a structured framework for understanding how poetic forms can encapsulate profound existential insights, offering valuable perspectives for both literary studies and contemporary well-being practices.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Osamu Okumura

Systems Engineering Department, Haiku Systems Research Association, Tokyo, Japan

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Shuichi Ōhashi

Systems Engineering Department, Haiku Systems Research Association, Tokyo, Japan

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Okumura, O., Ōhashi, S. (2025). End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models. Languages, Literatures and Cultures, 2(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11

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ACS Style

Okumura, O.; Ōhashi, S. End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2025, 2(1), 1-16. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11

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AMA Style

Okumura O, Ōhashi S. End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models. Lang Lit Cult. 2025;2(1):1-16. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11

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@article{10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11,
  author = {Osamu Okumura and Shuichi Ōhashi},
  title = {End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models},
  journal = {Languages, Literatures and Cultures},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.llc.20260201.11},
  abstract = {This research examines three haiku from Matsuo Bashō's masterwork Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North): "Inochi futatsu no naka ni ikitaru sakura kana" (Living within two lives-the cherry blossoms), "Hamaguri no futami ni wakare yuku aki zo" (Like a clam's shell at Futami, we part as autumn departs), and "Araumi ya Sado ni yokotau Amanogawa" (Turbulent seas-stretching toward Sado, the Milky Way). We employ PlantUML C4 models to conduct a structural analysis of these haiku. By applying the four abstraction layers of the C4 model (Context, Container, Component, and Code) to haiku interpretation, we systematically visualize the elements of end-of-life contemplation (shūkatsu) and well-being embedded within these poems. Our analysis reveals common themes across all three haiku: acceptance of the duality of life and death, re-recognition of relationships, and transcendence through devotion to nature-all core elements of spiritual well-being in the context of preparing for life's end. This methodology demonstrates the potential to rediscover the contemporary value of classical literature and suggests applications for practical end-of-life support. The findings provide a structured framework for understanding how poetic forms can encapsulate profound existential insights, offering valuable perspectives for both literary studies and contemporary well-being practices.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models
AU  - Osamu Okumura
AU  - Shuichi Ōhashi
Y1  - 2025/12/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11
T2  - Languages, Literatures and Cultures
JF  - Languages, Literatures and Cultures
JO  - Languages, Literatures and Cultures
SP  - 1
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.11
AB  - This research examines three haiku from Matsuo Bashō's masterwork Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North): "Inochi futatsu no naka ni ikitaru sakura kana" (Living within two lives-the cherry blossoms), "Hamaguri no futami ni wakare yuku aki zo" (Like a clam's shell at Futami, we part as autumn departs), and "Araumi ya Sado ni yokotau Amanogawa" (Turbulent seas-stretching toward Sado, the Milky Way). We employ PlantUML C4 models to conduct a structural analysis of these haiku. By applying the four abstraction layers of the C4 model (Context, Container, Component, and Code) to haiku interpretation, we systematically visualize the elements of end-of-life contemplation (shūkatsu) and well-being embedded within these poems. Our analysis reveals common themes across all three haiku: acceptance of the duality of life and death, re-recognition of relationships, and transcendence through devotion to nature-all core elements of spiritual well-being in the context of preparing for life's end. This methodology demonstrates the potential to rediscover the contemporary value of classical literature and suggests applications for practical end-of-life support. The findings provide a structured framework for understanding how poetic forms can encapsulate profound existential insights, offering valuable perspectives for both literary studies and contemporary well-being practices.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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