I will take the liberty of presenting an award.
It has been 5 months since I started Note.
It has been 10 months since I started writing haiku.
For a newcomer like me to present an award to others is presumptuous, and
I had thought that I would at least spend a year reading everyone's poems to learn, and then, with trepidation, present an 'arbitrary award' to the poems that moved me.
Just as I thought that, the announcement of the tournament's suspension came.
Oh my. I thought there would be no opportunity for me to present an award, but...
Having received an unexpectedly grand award this time, I felt that it would be inexcusable to simply accept it.
So, I racked my brain to think about who to give an award to and what kind of award it should be.
The result is this!
Ta-da!
The 'Team Min-Hai'
I named it myself, sorry.
Starting with the organizers, those who submitted poems, those who voted, those who read them, and you who are reading this article now!
I will present this award to everyone involved in this Everyone's Haiku Tournament as 'Team Min-Hai'.
Because I believe that if anyone were missing, the Everyone's Haiku Tournament would not have been possible.
The amazing thing about the Everyone's Haiku Tournament is that 'emotion chains together'.
I could never have experienced this kind of emotion just by writing haiku alone.
Absolutely!
There are people who organize, people who create, and people who support.
That is where 'emotion' is first born.
And then, there are people who create secondary works, and people who exchange awards.
The 'emotion' does not end there; it 'chains' forward.
Whether it is organizing, creating, or supporting, if anyone is missing, the 'chain of emotion' cannot be formed.
That is why everyone is 'Team Min-Hai'.
I received an emotion that I could never have obtained just by writing haiku alone.
Thank you.
Even the lush green, originally from a single tree nut.
There is no tree that was a large tree from the beginning.
The Everyone's Haiku Tournament must have also been a single tree nut at first.
How many poems have been written in the tournaments so far, and how many people must have been moved by those poems?
Being healed, encouraged, or made to realize something.
The 'Team Min-Hai' has made the 'leaves of words' of emotion flourish in the hearts of many people, and has grown them into lush green.
There is no work more wonderful than this, is there?
I am sure there were many difficult times.
But please, take pride in having been a member of 'Team Min-Hai'.
You moved me and made me feel happy.
This is an unshakable fact.
If you ever feel down in your life ahead, please remember this fact.
There is a person here who felt happy because of you!
Where will the tree nuts that ripened here sprout next, and what kind of buds will they produce?
I am looking forward to it.
Believing that I will be able to meet you all again.
August 3, Reiwa 5 - Magical Hour