*Readers of this article at the Akita Haiku International website are warmly invited to send up to 6 haiku before February 29, 2024 to the 35th ITO EN haiku contest via this online link:
https://itoen-shinhaiku.jp/en/requirements/
Why is Haiku Printed on Tea Bottles? –Special lecture by ITO EN representatives
On January 26th, Mr Sueshita and Mr. Suda, who are in charge of organizing haiku contests for Oi Ocha ITO EN Co., Ltd., visited The International University of Kagoshima to explain the growing popularity of haiku around Japan and the world.
In an “English Teaching Methodology ” class, 21 students-in-training to become high school teachers of English learned why new style Japanese and English haiku are important for company branding. The company started accepting English haiku submissions, and 29,991 haiku were received in 2023. From April, some of these teachers-in-training will have the chance to explain to their own classrooms the importance of poetic expression for English communication.
In recent years, haiku has been featured on the TV variety show “Prebato!!” and young people are becoming more interested in haiku. In class, we conducted a mock test on topics related to English haiku. There was also an examination question asking test-takers to create a new style English haiku, and the ITO EN contest organizers staff praised the participants for what they could write in a short amount of time.
In Japanese language, the above article can be directly read at this link,
なぜお茶のボトルに俳句が？――伊藤園の担当者が特別講義
鹿児島国際大学で「中学生・高校生英語科教育」の授業では、お～いお茶になぜ日本語の俳句が掲載されているのか、また俳句を表現することの大切さについて教わりました。
Akita International Haiku Network 
I am one of the lucky ones who had their haiku printed on tea bottles.
At the 27th ITO EN Oi Ocha New Haiku Contest 2016, I received the Sponsor’s Award (Haiku International Association).
I am one of the lucky ones who had their haiku printed on tea bottles.
At the 27th ITO EN Oi Ocha New Haiku Contest 2016, I received the Sponsor’s Award – from the Haiku International Association. Many thanks to the organizers and sponsors of this contest! Marta Chocilowska, Poland.