Amicale

Writing a haiku is a delightful way to capture the beauty and simplicity of a moment. Haikus are short, three-line poems that originate from Japan and often reflect nature, seasons, or a fleeting experience. To continue our celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe, and the 10th anniversary of Japanese language learning at the Council, the Amicale’s Japanese language section and Poetry Club have teamed up to organize our Autumn Haiku competition. This Amicale activity is sponsored by the Japanese General Consulate.

We’re inviting you to write a haiku in English or French and to send it to

alison.hindhaugh@coe.int and Valentyna.kryvenkova@coe.int 

The subject matter is up to you!

Participation is limited to Amicale members only.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 24 September (up-date - deadline is 6pm)  and a jury including Amicale President, Denis Huber, Vice-Consul Miku Aoki from the Consulate-General of Japan in Strasbourg, the Amicale’s Japanese teacher, Ryuji Takano, and haiku expert “Manda” will pick the winner.

So… how do you write a Haiku?

A traditional haiku has a specific structure: the poem is composed of three lines, the lines follow a 5-7-5 syllable count (so line one has 5 syllables, line two has 7 syllables and line 3 has 5 syllables).

And if you really want to respect the traditions even further, there are certain elements contained in a Haiku:

A Kigo (Seasonal Reference)

Haikus often include a kigo, which is a word or phrase that hints at the season. This helps ground the poem in a specific time of year. Examples are "Cherry blossoms" (spring), or "Falling leaves" (autumn).

A Kireji (Cutting Word)

 A kireji provides a cutting point in the haiku, adding a pause or punctuation that separates contrasting ideas or images. In English or French, this can be achieved with punctuation like a dash or a colon.

Example:

An old silent pond—

A frog jumps into the pond,

Splash! Silence again.

Nature and Simplicity

Haikus traditionally focus on nature and the simplicity of a moment. They capture the essence of a scene or feeling in just a few words.

Example:

An ocean voyage—

As waves break over the bow,

The sea welcomes me.

Now it's your turn! Grab a pen and immerse yourself in the beauty of haiku writing. Enjoy the process of capturing fleeting moments and the world around you in just three lines. Happy writing!