Haiku Mode
17 mora. One moment. Complete.
Haiku is the most compressed form of journaling ever invented. In 17 syllables (mora), a haiku captures a single moment of perception — a flash of sensory experience that gestures toward something larger. Kokoro Nikki's Haiku Mode makes this practice accessible, whether you're a dedicated practitioner or exploring it for the first time.
Mora counting in real time
The Haiku Mode editor counts mora as you type — accurately, across all three supported languages. Japanese haiku counts on (音) — phonetic units that sometimes differ from spoken syllables. English and Spanish counting follows the syllabic traditions of Western haiku. The counter updates with each keystroke and color-shifts when you complete each line.
Tategaki — vertical writing
Japanese haiku is traditionally written vertically, right-to-left. Kokoro Nikki's tategaki mode renders your haiku in this orientation — an interface feature rare in mobile apps. It changes the feeling of composition entirely: the column of characters becomes a physical presence on the screen, as it was on the page.
Haiku as journaling
Writing a haiku at the end of a journaling session is a way of distilling: what is the one moment from today that deserves to be crystallized? The practice of selecting that moment is itself reflective — it asks you to prioritize, to be present, to notice what matters. Many users find that a haiku captures what paragraphs couldn't.
The 5-7-5 debate
Traditional Japanese haiku uses 5-7-5 on, with a kireji (cutting word) and a seasonal reference (kigo). Contemporary English haiku is more flexible. Kokoro Nikki supports both: the default mode counts to 5-7-5, but you can disable strict counting and write freely in the haiku spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Haiku Mode work in all three languages?
Yes — English, Spanish, and Japanese, with language-appropriate mora/syllable counting.
Can I mix languages in a haiku?
Yes. The mora counter handles mixed-language input. Many users write Japanese kigo with English lines.
Are haiku entries stored differently from regular entries?
Haiku entries are tagged as haiku in your journal, so you can filter and browse them separately.
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