Amicale

Following the success of last year’s haiku competition, the Amicale is announcing a new competition. The 11th of February is Japan’s National Foundation Day (建国記念の日, Kenkoku Kinen no Hi). This date celebrates the legendary founding of Japan by Emperor Jimmu, the first Emperor of Japan, who is said to have ascended to the throne on this day in 660 BCE. It's a day for Japanese people to reflect on their nation's history and growth. So what better day to launch a new haiku competition?

Haikus are short, three-line poems that originate from Japan and often reflect nature, seasons, or a fleeting experience. The Amicale’s Japanese language section and Poetry Club are teaming up again this year to organize our 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!

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 4^th March (deadline to receive them is 6pm) and a jury will pick a winner under the watchful eye of our “marraine” and haiku expert “Manda”.

Just a reminder of the ingredients needed to make 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!