Becoming a feather, dancing in the air. [Naeko Shichida]

My encounter with Naeko Shichida was through this work, which she submitted to the "Festival of Talent" project held last year.

At that time, I was a judge for the novel category.
My first impression was, "Who is this person who can create such a deeply captivating world?" and I fell in love with her work at first sight.

Following that, a project called "RiNNe" was launched for this work, and here is the video created by collecting poems and illustrations.

Furthermore, Naeko-san made a stylish gesture by offering a reading or voice message as a gift to all applicants 🎁.

Naeko-san has a passionate heart and always gives back more than what she receives. Many people have been moved by her, as she powerfully manages to find time for these projects while living abroad, working, and raising her children.

🔻In the Tsurukame Cup, she challenged herself with tanka for the first time. Her creativity is outstanding, and I was constantly overwhelmed by her thoughtful appreciation posts that easily surpassed even the author's own imagination.

🔻She even sang the cheering song I wrote for the PJ-san project❗️

🔻Naeko-san, who acts more like a staff member by spontaneously writing tanka responses to pre-event prompts, finally became a judge for the Izayoi Cup.

🔻Despite accepting the role of a judge, she wrote thoughtful appreciation posts for every single participant. On top of that, she expanded circles of people by connecting many haiku in a new game she created called "Haiku de Pon".

Judging, visiting comments, and running projects—each one of these is quite a difficult task. In fact, when I run a separate project while hosting a tournament and leaving comments, I end up feeling like I've turned to ash for about a week afterward, haha. Well, it's fun so it's fine, though 😂. I hope you can see just how powerful Naeko-san is.

Now, such a Naeko-san,

Well, with this flow, if I'm told this, I have no choice but to do it, right ( *´艸`)💓

So, with that said,

this is the main topic (*`･ω･)ゞ

🔻 I'm borrowing Mimuko-san's wonderful vertical scroll again. Thank you as always. 💖

I have connected the three haiku that Naeko-san composed for the Izayoi Cup.

While creating this, I read a little bit of your articles and let myself imagine what kind of person you are, Naeko-san. Come to think of it, you aren't fond of butterflies, are you? ( *´艸`) Hehe.

You are always positive and can move toward what you want to do with bottomless energy. However, at the core of that, there is a deep-seated connection to life and death. It is something that is always there, right next to everyday life. That is precisely why you try to enjoy the "now" to the fullest and why you can laugh together about anything. Yet, you never overlook what is truly important. I got the impression that you shine so brightly precisely because you are so straightforward.

Since this yuzu represents your daughter, I added just a tiny bit of RiNNe elements. And when you connect these three haiku based on everything, a world unfolds where life and death circulate while nestled close to each other, and I felt as if I were fluttering away into it. I wonder if I was able to become a feather and dance in the air.

In creative work, it is of course good to build your own world, but your world expands even further by receiving inspiration from various people. I look forward to your future creative work, Naeko-san, which is so heartfelt—the kind that keeps taking in that inspiration, expanding it, making it bigger, and giving it to others. ❣️

Thank you very much. (｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ﾉﾞ