Announcing the Izayoi Cup [Pandagorogoro Prize]! [Update: Noriko-san and Yayoi-san's articles + Panda appearance in the ending video!]

Good evening, this is Pandagorogoro.

Last time, at the Tsurukame Cup, I received the
'Even So, Mother Prize'.

I found out about that on the train home from work, and I almost cried.

The 'Even So, Mother Prize' is an official Tsurukame Cup prize, but it's a little different from the others; the winning entry is decided not by the quality of the haiku, but by

'whether or not the haiku makes you feel kindness'.

And, this is also an important point: this prize is a
one-time-only prize, and in the next tournament, it changes into a prize named after the person who won it in the previous tournament.

It is a prize that has been passed down through generations like this. This is the reason why this prize is called the [
Kindness Prayer Bead Chain Prize].

To think that I would be the one to receive such an important prize. Even So, Mother trusted me and chose me as the winner of the prize that bears her own name.

When I realized that, something welled up inside me, and even though I was on the Tokaido Line train with many people around, I almost burst into tears.

That someone I only know through note, someone I have never even met, would trust me, would place their confidence in me—I didn't know until then that that could be such a happy thing.

Here, please let me briefly review the [Kindness Prayer Bead Chain Prize] once more. This prize is one where the winner acts as a judge for the next haiku tournament to choose the next winner, passing the baton on one after another.

The criteria for selection is that it must be a 'haiku that evokes kindness'.

Kindness, a feeling of support—the condition for a winning entry is that it makes you feel such warm things.

Kachii-san has explained the origins of the 'Kindness Prayer Bead Chain Prize'.

This time, too, Kachii-san has written a new article. Please be sure to read it.

▼ These are the past winning entries.

★Winner of the 1st 'Everyone's Haiku Grand Prix' Apollo Cup★

Noriko Tonomura

Looking up, searching for Mom by the poolside

★Winner of the 2nd 'Everyone's Haiku Grand Prix' Shiro Cup Noriko Tonomura Award★

Harappa no Risu

Playing the leaves, a wheelchair invites the wagtail

★Winner of the 3rd 'Everyone's Haiku Grand Prix' Sasa Cup Harappa no Risu Award★

Kotatsubuton

Rain boots, following father on the snowy path

★Winner of the 4th 'Everyone's Haiku Grand Prix' Space Cup Kotatsubuton Award★

Koredemo Kaasan

Exhausted, celebrating graduation with a school bag

★Winner of the 5th 'Everyone's Haiku Grand Prix' Tsurukame Cup Koredemo Kaasan Award★

Panda Gorogoro

Summer departs in the shadow of a pure white veil

Thank you very much for waiting.

Now, then, at last, it is time for the announcement of the "Panda Gorogoro Award".

The "Panda Gorogoro Award" goes to,

Yayoi-san's

Wanting to cry, I look up at the hazy moon there

is it.

The following is the scene that Panda Gorogoro imagined after reading Yayoi-san's haiku and text above.

☆☆☆

I don't cry while at work.
I am an adult.
Because I am a working professional,
no matter how much I want to cry, I hold it back.

But, once I leave the pharmacy (since Yayoi-san is a pharmacist),
various things I had been holding back come overflowing out.
The events that happened that day,
there were happy things too,
and I am often thanked, but,
after all, there are many unreasonable things too...

When I look up at the sky, there is the moon.
Maybe it's okay to cry now.
I wonder if it's okay to confide in the moon.

Oh, it was a bright full moon just a moment ago,
but before I knew it, clouds covered it, and it's hazy.
...
No.
It's my tears,
they are blurring it.

Perhaps the moon has its own hardships too.
Even so, it shows itself to us every day.
The fact that the full moon looks blurred might be the moon encouraging me.

As if watched over by the moon,
one night on my way home.

Thank you, moon.
I feel energized.
My job is to make people feel energized.

Hehe, perhaps it's a bit similar to the moon's job.

Tomorrow, I will work hard again for everyone's happiness.

A full moon night where I felt the moon suddenly smile.

[Update] Noriko Tonomura's article

Noriko Tonomura has also sent in a wonderful article.
She depicts the very moment the "Kindness Bead String Award" was born.
Please, do give it a read.

[Update 2] Yayoi-san's article

Yayoi-san has also sent in an article following her award.
Please, definitely give it a read.
In the next "White Bear Cup," she will surely choose a wonderful "Yayoi Award."

To all the staff of the Izayoi Cup,
and to everyone who participated in the Izayoi Cup, I offer my heartfelt thanks.

To Yayoi-san,
I am currently making a commemorative gift.
I will release it at a later date, so please accept it if you would like (scheduled for around next Monday) 🐼

Thank you for reading until the end today as well.
I would like to thank everyone who lent their support.

I am especially indebted to Koredemo-kaasan. She provided wonderful assistance.
I would like to state this here and express my gratitude.

Let us all enjoy the Izayoi Cup until the grand finale.
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I truly enjoyed myself.<Written on 11/4>

▼
The one in the middle is me (the panda wearing a hat).
Naeko Shichida-san and Madonatsu-san are also nearby, which makes me happy♪
Shichi-san, thank you very much.
Everyone, please take a look at the brave figure of the panda!

#IzayoiCup
#Everyone'sHaikuTournament
#PandaGorogoroAward