1.Who may enter?

All residents of Kansas and Missouri.

2. If I have purchased a ticket to the 2023 KC Japanese Festival and do not reside in Kansas or Missouri, may I enter?

Yes, you may. Contact Annie Newcomer at newcomeriv@aol.com — in the subject line place non-resident haiku entry— and she will get back with you with instructions.

3. How many haiku may I enter?

You may enter up to 3 haiku.

4. May I collaborate with a child, grandchild, or friend?

Yes. We hope to bring people of all ages to haiku. Because of their ability to see their surroundings purely, children are able to write beautiful haiku. If your work is selected, you will have the option to provide the collaborator’s name.

5. Is judging anonymous?

Yes, your personal information will be withheld from the judges during the selection process to ensure an unbiased process.

6. Are there prizes for the poets of selected haiku?

Yes. In addition to having their haiku displayed at the festival, the poets who submit the 10 selected haiku will receive a book on haiku by Frank Higgins.

7. How will I learn if I am selected?

We will post the names of the selections on September 20th, 2023 on the Japanese Festival website, and inform the selected entrants by email.

8. What should the poet keep in mind when writing haiku?

a. There is a seasonal reference in traditional haiku. This often involves using specific words that represent the seasons.

b. The lines in a haiku do not rhyme or use simile or metaphor, nor do you title haiku.

c. Please keep in mind, while often presented in three 5-7-5 syllabic lines, this format is not a strict rule. This competition will follow guidelines for modern haiku, which do not require the traditional 5-7-5 structure. Removing the strict structural requirements for syllables frees the author to use evocative language to capture a moment or expression of beauty in a short, descriptive verse.

9. What are some examples of what the Japanese Festival considers to be fine haiku?

Examples:

Spring is passing.
The birds cry, and the fishes’ eyes are
With tears.
(Basho)

The summer grasses.
All that remains
Of warriors’ dreams.
(Basho)

Fireworks
fireflies forgotten
in the jelly jar.
(Frank Higgins)

A wolf’s long howl
the dog by the campfire
growls at its masters.
(Frank Higgins)

10. Can you give us some good tips on writing haiku?

Frank Higgins, who will present a Haiku Workshop at the 2023 Festival, shares this advice: “Try to make your audience SEE the subject of the poem.

11. If you have any questions about this contest:

Please send an email to newcomeriv@aol.com. In the subject line, place your name and “Question on Japanese Festival Haiku Contest”.