Discover Japanese poetry thanks to the Haiku contest. Express Hope in a few worlds if you want to participate in the contest.

Haiku, previously called Hokku, is a form of Japanese poetry which conveys deep meanings through the purity and simplicity of its style. Created in its present form by Matsuo BASHÔ in the 17th century, the Haiku has become more modern and was made popular world wide thanks to the poet Shiki MASAOKA in the late 19th century.

 

How to write Haiku

Haiku is a spiritual training above all and a rather simple form of poetry which conceals wordplay that may be quite complex in Japanese (Kanji and Kana).

A Haiku is made of 17 moras (or syllables), written vertically. It may also be written in the art of calligraphy with sober ornamentations.

In the occidental fashion, Haiku has been given the shape, judged as too strict by some, of three lines of 5, 7 and 5 moras, which makes a total of 17.

This is the most famous example, by the poet Matsuo BASHÔ:

 

Furu ike ya
fu / ru / i / ke / ya
(5)

Kawazu tobikomu
ka / wa / zu / to / bi / ko / mu
(7)

Mizu no oto
mi / zu / no / o / to
(5)

(Old pond, a frog leaps in, water’s sound.)

Let’s see what it looks like the occidental way:

 

Whitecaps on the bay:
A broken signboard banging
In the April wind.
(Richard Wright, collected in Haiku: This Other World)

 

How to take part?

The aim is easy, send us a Haiku, respecting the following rules:
 

• Theme: Hope
• Format: A5 (half of an A4 sheet)
• Form: 3 lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables, vertically or horizontally
• Constraints: Your Haiku has to be written in calligraphy, with some ornamentations if you wish. Yet ornamentations are not the most important thing when judging your Haiku!
• Don’t forget... Be poetic!

This is an example created for you by Japan Expo’s poet!

The sun is rising
All together united
Ganbare Japan!

(Beautiful, isn’t it? !)

NB: You don’t have to use the word Hope in your Haiku.

 

Mail participation
Send your Haiku to the following address:

 

JAPAN EXPO
Concours de Haiku
14 place Georges POMPIDOU
93160 Noisy-le-Grand - FRANCE

Don’t forget to write your name, first name, age and address at the back of your Haiku!

Frequency: three sessions are organized until June 11th:

• Session 1: from April 1st to April 30th.
• Session 2: from May 2nd to May 21st.
• Session 3: from May 23rd to June 11th.

All the Haiku sent after June 11th, considering the postmark, will not enter the contest.

Prizes ans prizegiving
At the end of each session of the contest, three winners will be chosen according to the quality of their Haiku (the poetic value) and also to the presentation. The winners will win one free entrance ticket each for one day of their choice (except Saturday) at Japan Expo 12th Impact , send after the end of the contest and at least one week before the festival, as well as a surprise reward to be withdrawn at the Point Concours (Contest Desk) during the festival (surprise reward will not be sent by mail)!

All the Haiku by all the participants will be displayed at Japan Expo!

 

First session

 

The first session is over. Watch here the winning Haiku (click to enlarge)

 

Fragiles lueurs
Les cerisiers sont en fleurs
Aube nouvelle

Céline DELAFOSSE
 

Un ciel sinistre
Cerisier illuminé
Un espoir renaît

Angélique FAUVELLIERE

 

Ténèbres nocturnes
Toujours semétamorphosent
En auguste aurore

Alena GOETZMANN

Congratulations!

 

Second session

You want to know who are the news winners? Their Haiku are just here (click to enlarge)

 

Echo d'une larme
Souffle du vent sur ma peau
Promesse de demain

Léa GAGNON
 

Milieu des débris
Des enfants se tiennent la main
Regardant le ciel

Fanny PACARY
 

Monde ténébreux
Elciaré par un soleil
Jaillit un espoir

Kaï CHAN

Thanks everyone and congratulations!

 

Third session

The last winnig Haiku are just here (click to enlarge)

 

Un rêve qui vit
Malgré de bien sombres nuits
Elan Infini

Marla AZOULAÏ

 

Voile de soie noire
Néant calme et profond
Une étoile brille

Philippine GILLET

 

Dans la cour pavée
Une branche de l'arbre blanc
Qui fleurit enfin

Marina D'ERRICO

 

We received many Haiku! Thanks a lot to all of you!
Congratulations!

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.: Will you give the names of the winners?
A.: Yes, the winners are going to be announced at the end of the contest as well as the Haiku.

Q.: When are the results given?
A.: They should be given a week after the end of each session of the contest at the latest.

Q.: Can the Haiku be sent by e-mail?
A.: No, this contest is only by mail.