1,167 haiku from 60 countries to 5th Japan – Russia Haiku Contest 2016

 

1,167 haiku from 60 countries to 5th Japan-Russia Haiku Contest

 

September 6, 2016

Akita International Haiku Network

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.

The Akita International Haiku Network has held the Japan-Russia Haiku Contest since 2012, because the contests ended in a great success. In particular, in the 4th Japan-Russia Haiku Contest in 2015, 1,146 haiku were submitted from 59 countries.

In 2016, the organizer sincerely hoped that the 5th Japan-Russia haiku contest would flourish more worldwide, and that haiku could 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.

 

1.  Only one haiku was allowed to be submitted per haiku poet, and there were three sections of Japanese haiku, Russian haiku, and English haiku. One of the languages had to be chosen from among Japanese, Russian, and English in composing and submitting haiku.

The theme was　“mountain, sea, lake, river, or anything ”. 

As a result, 1,167 haiku were submitted from 60 countries.

 

2.  332 haiku were sent for the Japanese haiku section.

332 haiku were submitted from 5 countries: Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Taiwan, and USA.

 

3.  453 haiku were sent for the Russian haiku section.
    453 haiku were submitted from 18 countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, UK, Ukraine, USA, and Uzbekistan.

 

4.  382 haiku were sent for the English haiku section.

    382 haiku were submitted from 51 countries: Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Croatia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece,  Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, UK, USA, and Vietnam.

 

5.  Awards:

Akita Prefectural Governor’s Award is presented to the best haiku in the Japanese section.

Akita City Mayor’s Award is presented to the best haiku in the Russian section.

Akita International University President’s Award is presented to the best haiku in the English section.

JAL Foundation Award and Akita Chamber of Commerce and Industry President’s  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.

 

6.  The results of the contest are announced on the website of Akita International Haiku Network (https://akitahaiku.com/) at the beginning of October, 2016.

Three winners of each haiku section will be notified by email at the beginning of October, 2016.

Winner’s haiku and haiku of honorable mention are also posted with translations of the two other languages on the website.

 

Hidenori Hiruta