本年、「第２９回国民文化祭・あきた２０１４」成果継承事業として第４回日露俳句コンテストを開催いたします。
今回は英語版の募集要項を掲載いたします。
皆様のご応募を期待しております。
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The 4th Japan-Russia Haiku Contest
(Guidelines for Submission)
April 30, 2015
Akita International Haiku Network
INTRODUCTION
The Akita International Haiku Network holds the 4th Japan-Russia Haiku Contest in celebration of the great success of the 29th National Cultural Festival in Akita 2014.
This is because the 3rd Japan-Russia Haiku Contest ended in a great success as part of the 29th National Cultural Festival in Akita 2014. 1,130 haiku were submitted from 46 countries.
In 2012, the 1st Japan -Russia Haiku Contest was launched with the help of JAPAN
CENTER IN VLADIVOSTOK as one of the links with the cultural exchange between Japan and Russia, wishing to provide an opportunity to mutually share haiku related to the theme of “the sea” (The Sea of Japan) which connects Japan and Russia.
The organizer hoped that the contest would serve as an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding among people, to promote the interaction of people’s views on Japan and Russia, as well as to convey the enjoyment of reading or composing haiku.
The organizer also hoped that it would serve as an opportunity to strengthen and develop the sister city relationship between Akita and Vladivostok, as well as to promote and increase cultural exchanges between Akita Prefecture and Primorsky Region.
In 2015, the organizer sincerely hopes that the 4th Japan-Russia haiku contest will flourish more worldwide, and that haiku can deepen mutual understanding and enjoyment of different cultures between those people who read or compose the poem.
As a result, the organizer wishes haiku could help make the world peaceful.
Please submit your haiku according to the guidelines below.
Organizer: Akita International Haiku Network
Sponsors: JAL Foundation, The Akita Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Supporters: Akita Prefecture, Akita International University, Akita Prefectural Board of Education, Akita International Association, Akita City, Akita City Board of Education, Akita Association of English Studies, The Akita Sakigake Shimpo, Haiku International Association, The International University of Kagoshima, Japan Culture Club at Japan Center in Vladivostok, Primorsky Region, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok City, Yosano Akiko Memorial Literary Society
Eligibility: The contest is open to the public of any nationality in the world
Entry: Only one haiku is allowed to be submitted per haiku poet.
Theme: “lake”
Submission Guideline:
Original, previously unpublished haiku should be submitted according to the entry form. There are three sections of Japanese haiku, Russian haiku, and English haiku. One of the languages has to be chosen from among Japanese, Russian, and English in composing and submitting haiku.
Japanese Haiku Section:
Please download the entry form below in Japanese and submit it by email to: shhiruta@nifty.com
Japanese Section (日本語部門) (Word file) 日本語部門 (pdf file)
Russian Haiku Section:
Please download the entry form below in Russian and submit it by email to:
Russian Section (ロシア語部門 ) (Word file) ロシア語部門 (pdf file)
English Haiku Section:
Please download the entry form below in English and submit it by email to: shhiruta@nifty.com
English Section (英語部門) (Word file) 英語部門 (pdf file)
Submission period: Friday May 1, 2015 – Tuesday June 30, 2015
Deadline: Tuesday June 30, 2015
Judges:
Japanese Haiku Section: Shoji Muto, Seiji Tateoka, Kunio Teshima,
Kazuhiro Kudo, Yoshitomo Igarashi,
Kyoko Uchimura, Reina Yano
Russian Haiku Section: Alexander Dolin
English Haiku Section: David McMurray, Satoru Kanematsu,
Hidenori Hiruta
Awards:
Three winners of each haiku section will be notified by email at the end of August, 2015 and announced on the website of Akita International Haiku Network (https://akitahaiku.com/) on October 11, 2015. Winner’s haiku and haiku of honorable mention are also posted with translations of the two other languages on the website.
Akita Prefectural Governor Award is presented to the best haiku in the Japanese section.
Akita International Haiku Network Chief Director Award is presented to the best haiku in the Russian section by Akita International Haiku Network.
Akita International University President Award is presented to the best haiku in the English section by Akita International University.
JAL Foundation Award and the Akita Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Award are also presented to one of the honorable mentions in each section by the sponsors above mentioned.
Each winner is presented with the certificate and prize.
Contact: Akita International Haiku Network (shhiruta@nifty.com)
Please inquire by e-mail only.
Akita International Haiku Network 
Dear Hiruta san,
Should one specifically give the “lake” a mention in his or her haiku or can be suggestive as well.
Warmly,
Adjei Agyei-Baah
Dear Adjei san,
Thank you very much for such a nice comment from you.
I sincerely hope that you and your haiku friends will take part in this contest, sending the haiku to us.
Best wishes,
Hidenori Hiruta