Announcement of the 6 Selected Haiku by Koki Kameyama, One of the Judges for the White Bear Cup (Kameyama Prize)

The Haiku competition, the 'White Bear Cup.' Thank you all for your hard work!

As a humble gesture, I served as one of the judges for the Haiku category this time as well. I reviewed all the entries anonymously and selected a total of 12 haiku, consisting of the 'top 6 plus 6 from the preliminary round'.top 6 plus 6 from the preliminary round, for a total of 12 haiku I have selected these.

Haiku is always by our side, but it rarely becomes the protagonist of one's life. As long as we are alive, good and bad things are always happening. There is no time to indulge in verse of a mere 17 syllables. There are definitely times when you just don't feel like it.

But Haiku will not betray you. No matter what, it never leaves your side, and when you truly need it in your life, it will pop up and say, 'Look, I'm here.'

I will say it as many times as it takes. Haiku will not betray you. Whether you are chosen by others, praised, or not. It transcends such dimensions and supports you from the very core.

I tried to sound cool, but please continue to enjoy Haiku.

・White Bear Cup Kameyama Prize (Special Prize)

Author: Aki Hane
What did they reconcile about? It really made me think. If read normally, perhaps it refers to a reconciliation after being scolded by someone close for getting a navel piercing.

However, I cannot help but feel that the seasonal word 'sunbathing' acts as the backbone of the story, hiding something. The weight of the word 'reconciliation.' The crystal-clear tranquility of 'sunbathing.' These contradictory nuances make me feel that there might be a spectacular drama behind it.

The impression of a Haiku changes significantly depending on how the seasonal word is handled. This poem was one that truly made me feel that. Thank you for the wonderful poem.

・Kameyama Prize Runner-up (2nd Place)

Author: Ishikoro
I was reminded of Kunio Tsukamoto's Tanka: 'I want to escape Japan, both the emperor penguin and the emperor penguin keeper.' Japanese people love penguins, don't they? They are cute, of course, but I think it's also because it's easy to project one's own circumstances onto their figure, standing still in the extreme cold without a single complaint.

This poem perfectly captures that representative image of the Japanese people. They are reticent, but if everyone is just there silently by your side, it would surely be warm. I chose this with a sense of self-admonition, as I am someone who talks too much and embodies the source of trouble caused by the mouth. Thank you.

・3rd Place

Author: Daiki Shioda
When I saw this poem on the list of entries, I laughed. 'Winter desolation' is a seasonal word that describes the desolate state of withered plants and trees. That appearance makes me imagine the face of an android, which somehow feels inorganic. I probably have an android face myself on a daily basis. I empathized with it greatly.

・4th Place

Author: Kaitou Yowamushi
I can smell the jam tea. In the extreme cold, I am savoring only that sweetness.

Are they drinking it alone, or with someone close? It is a poem where the interpretation changes depending on the reader. It feels very wintry, and I like it very much.

・5th Place

Author: Ricotto
There is a deep sense of emotion here. Amidst the loneliness of the empty wind, that state of mind is highlighted in particular. I cannot say something irresponsible like "it will work out," but I believe that someone like Ricotto, who can compose such a wonderful haiku, will eventually find things going well.

・6th Place

Author: Noriko Tonomura
Honest words. Because of that, they are conveyed honestly. The comforting seasonal word "mild autumn day" firmly supports the author's feelings.

The words resonate with the seasonal word, making this a haiku with deep flavor.・Introduction of the other 6 final candidates

Hey, listen, the sound of falling snow, the sound of a heartbeat
Utsusupi

North wind, a love letter that won't progress
Shun

Tobacco shop, the shelf without tobacco, cold wind
George

The New Year arrives like a whale
Shinkiro

Paraglider takes off toward the snowy Fuji
Kappy

Urajiro fern, they say the Archaeopteryx had teeth
Shiro

・Links to the selector awards of other judges

・List of all submissions