初句会 New Year Poem Contest in Osaka

Hamayashiki, Aikawa, 27 Jan. From the 30 or so entered, one poem from each of 15 contestants was selected by Jane Wieman without knowing the identity of the poets. Mari Kawaguchi typed them onto a sheet that was distributed to the kukai attendees. We were then given 10 points each to allocate between our favourite 3 haiku; and were later asked to explain why we had liked those three. The photo above shows winner, Mayumi Kawaharada, receiving her prize from a 'new look' Tito. We had time to discuss all poems on the sheets and found at least some merit in most. The kukai is a fun way to get some critical feedback on your poems. For full results, click the COMMENTS key.

Parallel vapor trails

grow in a clear blue sky -

New Year

(Mayumi Kawaharada, 21 points)

vapor rising

above New Year's mochi -

the white-clad shopkeeper

praises this year's beans

(Keiko Yurugi, 14 pts.)

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If you wish to contact us about events, publications and other general matters, please do so through the COMMENTS key below this Board.　We will reply to you also through the key. イベント、出版物、その他に関する一般連絡はこのコラム下のCOMMENTS キーにてお願いします。
******HAILSTONE PUBLICATIONS******
HAILSTONES (2001) a haiku chapbook ￥700 (sold out)
LOST HEIAN (2003) a Japan-in-Asia haiku gathering ￥800 (discount price for last copies)
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******HAILSTONE EVENTS******
(RECENT PAST: for event reports, see archive postings)
Mar 12, 2006 Mt. Ogura Is Shedding Tears Part VII, Saga, Kyoto (Ginko, SG/ACE)
May 07, 2006 Ginko under Fresh Green Leaves, Oyamazaki, Kyoto (HM/MK)
Aug 03, 2006 Summer Evening on the Water, Arashiyama, Kyoto (Kukai, JW/KY)
Aug 26, 2006 Renga Meeting in Shokado Garden, Yawata, Osaka (GS)
Oct 14, 2006 Hailstone's annual Autumn Haike, Yamabe-no-michi, Nara (SG)
Oct 15, 2006 Internat. Ginko-no-Renga (in assoc. with Roses Group, UK), Asuka, Nara (SG)
Nov 05, 2006 Mt. Ogura is Shedding Tears Part VIII, Saga, Kyoto (Lecture-Ginko, SG/ACE)
Dec 09, 2006 Ginko under Autumn Leaves, Tetsugaku-no-michi, Kyoto (MB/KY)
Jan 27, 2007 The first Kukai of 2007 (Hatsu-kukai), Hamayashiki, Osaka (MK/RH)
(FORTHCOMING: for further details, please see separate postings; enquiries through the COMMENTS key, please.)
February 18 (Sun.), 2007 13:30 – 16:30 Chinese Lunar New Year’s Celebration with Poetry at Jane’s house (near Matsuo Shrine, Kyoto. Tel 075-881-2278, Fax 075-861-6885)
Please bring a poem (not your own) or two to share. Poems may be of any genre, language and era. If very long, excerpts only. If not in English, please be prepared to offer a translation or paraphrase in English. Light refreshments also welcome! (Organizer: Jane Wieman)
March/April (not decided) Cherry-blossom Viewing (Ohana-mi) (Organizer: solicited)

Early Cherry Blossom

For those of you who still haven't, you can listen to my latest BBC Radio programme, Cherry Women, Cherry Men, which contains lots of haiku and tanka, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/sundayfeature/pip/k6ijr/. It is 45 minutes long, but the site remembers where you listened to, so installment listening is no problem. It will be taken off the site pretty soon, however! Quickly, please ...

Happy Birthday Hotspot

The Hotspot Haiku Circle Blog has reached its first birthday.
During the year we have had 113 original haiku or short poems published on this blog by 20 different poets.
Richard Steiner, Jonathan Gott and Gerald Staggers have been our most exuberant and prolific contributors.

You can easily review the published haiku by using the monthly archive listing at the side of this page. Among the many fine poems we have published, here are two of my favourites:

Following the monk
With a key as long as a wand ...
Autumn leaves
(Tito, November)

Winter storm churning
The park's high oaks and beeches -
Cat shifts in my lap.
(Jonathan Gott, December)

The Third Day

聞きなれた声聞こえ来て三日かな
familiar voices
from PC-
the third day

My old PC couldn't download the procedure for BBC broadcast, but my wive's new one can! The third day is a kigo of new year: the 1st day (Ganjitsu元日, the beginning day of the year), 2nd day (futsuka二日), 3rd day (mikka三日), 4th day (yokka四日), 5th day (itsuka五日), 6th day (muika六日) and 7th day (nanuka 七日or Jinjitsu人日), all mean days in January alone in Japanese haiku. These days in eastern Japan, Kanto area (in western Kansai area, plus days till 15th) are said to be within the pine tree which is a auspicious plant. Kansai people thus have longer joyous days! Interesting?

from Tito in Bali

A power-cut plunges

the festival procession

into age-old darkness ...

lit by embers thrown.

(Lodtunduh, Bali, Indonesia, 24.12.06)

Year end

Private dentist says
"I'll start with the little things."
Not at your prices!
_________________________

Bibliophile friend
Turning over a new book -
The side lamp's warm light.
_________________________

Blown this way and that
By a storm-force sou'-wester,
Seagull struggles on.