The Japanese language section of the Amicale organized this competition as part of the Council’s 75th anniversary celebrations and also to mark the Japanese section’s own 10th anniversary. Special thanks to the Amicale’s Poetry Club and their President Valentyna Kryvenkova with whom we co organized this event.
We were marvelously supported by the Amicale and the General Consulate – the Permanent Representation of Japan to the Council of Europe. Prizes have were generously donated by Manda, a French Haiku expert and Japanologue resident in Alsace.
Our jury met to deliberate and choose three winners on 25 September. The jury was composed of Denis Huber, President of the Amicale, Ryuji Takano, the Amicale’s Japanese teacher, Japanese Vice Consul, Miku Aoki, Researcher and Advisor Kana Fukushima and Haiku expert Manda.
The jury noted with pleasure the end of summer and autumnal notes which vibrated in these poems. The entries were very inspired by the changing seasons. Our participants ranged from first timer Haiku poets just discovering this form, to prolific writers probably write their shopping lists in Haiku form, they are so at ease!
So without further ado, here are our winners:
First prize: Pascal Dourneau-Josette
Second prize: Benedetta Casiraghi
Third prize: Pierre Heinz
The jury congratulates them most warmly and we look forward to the prize giving ceremony.
You can download the PDF E-publication of all entries here ->