It’s haiku time again! The Japanese section of the Amicale is launching its third haiku competition. This year we celebrate 30 years of Japan being an observer state of the Council of Europe. And of course we’re marking the 11th of February as Japan’s national celebration – National Foundation Day (建国記念の日, Kenkoku Kinen no Hi). And since Spring is just round the corner now, we’re going to set a theme for this year’s competition: Sakura, the Spring flowering of the cherry blossom. So your challenge is to bring this theme, either literally or why not figuratively or metaphorically into your three lines.
This annual competition is actively supported by the Japanese General Consulate and the Amicale’s Poetry section.
All Amicale members are invited to send their haikus in English or French to:
[email protected] and [email protected]
You can send as many as you want but only one official entry to the competition so let us know which one it is. The rest will be published in the “out of competition” section. Participation is limited to Amicale members only.
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 31 March and a jury including Amicale President, Denis Huber, and Vice-Consul Miku Aoki from the Consulate-General of Japan in Strasbourg and haiku expert “Manda” will pick the winner.
If you fancy some inspiration, why not drop by the Amicale’s office and pick up your paper copy of the 2025 haiku book which has been specially illustrated by the Council of Europe’s Japanese painting teacher, Manda, and her pupils.
Here’s a reminder of how to write a haiku…
A traditional haiku has a specific structure: the poem is composed of three lines, the lines follow a 5-7-5 syllable count (so line one has 5 syllables, line two has 7 syllables and line 3 has 5 syllables).
And if you really want to respect the traditions even further, there are certain elements contained in a Haiku:
A Kigo (Seasonal Reference)
Haikus often include a kigo, which is a word or phrase that hints at the season. This helps ground the poem in a specific time of year. Examples are "Cherry blossoms" (spring), or "Falling leaves" (autumn).
A Kireji (Cutting Word)
A kireji provides a cutting point in the haiku, adding a pause or punctuation that separates contrasting ideas or images. In English or French, this can be achieved with punctuation like a dash or a colon.
Example:
An old silent pond—
A frog jumps into the pond,
Splash! Silence again.
Nature and Simplicity
Haikus traditionally focus on nature and the simplicity of a moment. They capture the essence of a scene or feeling in just a few words.
Example:
An ocean voyage—
As waves break over the bow,
The sea welcomes me.
Now it's your turn! Grab a pen and immerse yourself in the beauty of haiku writing. Enjoy the process of capturing fleeting moments and the world around you in just three lines. Happy writing!