お〜いお茶新俳句大賞 > The 20th

summer heat in the shadow of a chimney pigeons gather

Michael Lindenhofer   Age: 39   Nationality: Austria

On a boiling hot day, the shadow of a chimney makes a clear black outline on the roof. Pigeons gather under the shadow to revel in the cool. The contrast of the hard and compact form of the chimney and the gathering of soft animals forms a clear image. The chimney, for the fireplace in winter and not used in summer, still plays a role for the pigeons in summer. This piece from Austria vividly expresses that country’s character. «Tsunehiko Hoshino»

gathering clouds a sparrow balances on a wheat stalk

Simonova-Cecon Valeria   Age: 29   Nationality: Italy

autumn dusk in my boots' depths a lone ladybug

Bakos Ferenc   Age: 63   Nationality: Hungary

a callused hand studying the fruit

Yuina Takase   Age: 16   Nationality: Japan

falling blossom parents hover by the school gates

Helen Buckingham   Age: 48    Nationality: UK

dusk settles into the rice stubble― a sickle moon

Margaret Chula   Age: 61   Nationality: USA

long winter the cat sniffs daffodils with suspicion

Bernadette Duncan   Age: 43   Nationality: Germany

winter rain the lake creeps under the fence

Quendryth Young   Age: 73   Nationality: Australia

dawn the trees filter light and bird songs

John Tiong Chunghoo   Age: 49   Nationality: Malaysia

Tsunehiko Hoshino

Many little acorns Put on their hats And begin a long journey

Yoko Uozumi   Age: 15   Nationality: Japan

Acorns are wrapped in a shell with a bowl- or dish-shaped lower portion. In Japan these are referred to as “rice bowls” or “hakama,” but in this piece they are given the appealing and novel label of “hats.” A group of acorns wearing these hats set out on a long and tough journey. The poet’s memories of a long journey are wrapped inside this haiku.

Philip D. Zitowitz

morning park autumn air rolls in tai chi arcs

Yuko Hirota   Age: 56   Nationality: Japan

The wind of an early autumn morning is conveyed as being like the graceful rolling style of Tai Chi. This shows a dynamic and rich imagination able to think of new and startling ideas.

Haiku International Association (H.I.A)

The rainy season alumni association of umbrellas

Shohei Oiso   Age: 13   Nationality: Japan

Contestants may write about any subject they like. The poems do not have to include seasonal references or the other Haiku conventions. Contestants are encouraged to express themselves freely in the 5-7-5 form. Japanese Haiku divisions Sawako Agawa, Writer Shimpei Asai, Photographer Tota Kaneko, Haiku poet Yoson Kurahashi, Haiku poet Sumio Mori, Haiku poet Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Actress English Haiku division Tsunehiko Hoshino, Haiku poet, Vice Chairman of Haiku International Association Philip D. Zitowitz, Associate Professor at Meiji University ITO EN New Haiku Contest Executive Committee The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology The Modern Haiku Association (Gendai Haiku Kyokai) The Students Haiku Association of Japan Haiku International Association (H.I.A) NHK Gakuen NHK Culture Center Asahi Culture Center Sankei Gakuen Mainichi Bunka Center Yomiuri-Nihon Television Network Culture Center Japan Educational Exchanges and Services Nihon Kyoiku Shimbunsha