【Secret Response Poem】Thanks to everyone 💖

The 4-part consecutive project starting from November 27th
Secret Response Poem has successfully concluded 👏👏👏

This was my second time hosting, taking over from Yukinko-san.

I got a bit more used to it this time, but
without making any major changes,
I started the second round.

Then, receiving power from all of you,
I feel that Secret Response Poem has grown significantly
by its second run.

With a hybrid of comment participation and article participation

First, I took the liberty (lol) of
accepting the style of those who participated
via articles, and made both comment participation and
article participation okay.

While keeping the casual nature of comment participation,
the freedom increased and it became even more fun.

With articles, it's easier to write more than one poem,
you can add explanations,
or piggyback on other projects,
there's so much you can do.

Even those who find it a high hurdle to come to an article
can participate from afar ^^

I feel like it became easier for the participants
to join in,
and as the host, it's fun to look at both ^^

To the pioneers Hisui-san and Mitei-san,
thank you very much ✨

Creative work expanded even further

Azuki-san, triggered by their own tanka
being chosen as the original poem,
matched it with a song.

I was happy that this multiplication of creativity
spontaneously occurred within the project.

I think these movements that started from the beginning
created the later expansion.

Thank-you articles increased

The fact that article participation became okay
might be a big factor.
Perhaps because response poems were only movements within my articles,
people couldn't express their joy.

Those who were chosen as the original poem
wrote thank-you articles
for receiving a response poem.

And those who wrote the response poems
were even happier and posted their own thank-you articles.

Yuzu-san and chiyo-san
wrote a thank-you article as a collaboration,
and with Canva and business card makers,
they expanded the range of ideas and creativity
even further.


There were others who expressed their thanks
through response poems or poetry,
and from here too, multiplication of creativity was born.

Seeing many people leave thank-you comments
for each and every person who wrote a response poem
to their original poem,
my heart was warmed
by everyone's thoughtfulness.

I was also happy that new connections were born
triggered by the response poems.

I am happy that people are enjoying themselves
away from my articles.

I am very moved
that the joy is spreading more and more.

I received the name of the Tanka Big Sister

I received a letter of appreciation and the name of the
Tanka Big Sister
from chiyo-san 🌈
This makes me so happy ✨

At the entrance to Tanka,
I think I can play the role of connecting you to Tanka.
I am moved to realize that the me on note
is being shaped
while being supported by everyone like this 💖

Everyone is enjoying the secret Tanka exchange

Since the previous secret exchange
was for the Izayoi Cup,
I chose Tanka that were moon-based as much as possible,
but could also be interpreted
as something other than romance.

But I felt the reaction was somehow slow.
I wondered if it was too difficult after all.

This time, I learned from that experience
and started by leaning
a bit more towards love.
It is a Tanka exchange, after all.

However, I thought it would be too much
if it were too lovey-dovey,
so I tried to open up some breathing room
by letting that show here and there,
and surprisingly, some people took the world in a different direction,
or posted Tanka that didn't tie love
to a happy ending.

I felt that people were gaining the leeway
to enjoy creation as a story,
not just writing Tanka.

The potential of noters is amazing.

Parallel worlds could be created in creation as well

I choose two original poems,
but since there are many responses, I thought it would be possible
to have side stories that go in the direction
of those not chosen.

If anyone does that, please link to my article
and the article of the person concerned.

The support of regulars is appreciated

As I mentioned earlier,
in the secret Tanka exchange, only two original poems
are chosen each week.
So I truly feel sorry for the many people
who are not chosen as the original poem.

Even so, many people post every week.

In this secret exchange, people who are new,
people just passing by, and people who are new to Tanka
also participated.

I believe this is because many regulars
participate and liven up
the articles.

They are the successive Min-Hai staff
and crew members.

I realized that so many people
have been involved.

I was very grateful.

Because such friends are
lively and enjoying the articles

I think even first-timers can
come here with peace of mind.

It is all thanks to you all.
Thank you so much.

The interaction is fun

This is completely my personal impression, but
the secret comments also have a secret feel to them.

Even though they are completely public,
reading the reply poems I received
and being able to leave
a simple comment
feels like sharing a world
between you and me.

The original poem is not mine,
but it is an exchange of sensibilities with me who chose it.
I find this quiet, secret interaction with you
to be quite delightful.

Special thanks

I am grateful to everyone, but
there is someone I must not forget in particular

Hayashippu
Thank you for readily agreeing to create the header.
I was very happy that you thought about how to make it eye-catching
in line with current topics.
By the way, the heart mark on the bear's chest
is a different color every week 🐻‍❄️

Izayoi-san
Thank you for carrying the 'secret'
in your name's title as well.
There were already comments everywhere I went
in the thank-you articles too.
Thank you so much for your support.

Min-Hai-san
Thank you for your warm consideration and for embedding the links every time 💖
I was happy.
Even though this is the spin-off, right? 😆

What will the final tanka be?

Actually, I didn't do a summary article
last time, did I? 😅

This time I am delivering it
in a large volume,
but I must also properly
finish the reply poem story.

I borrowed Mimuko-san's vertical scroll library
and tried making it.

I feel like it's on the same timeline somehow,
so I think it's good.

Who will the last poem be by?
What kind of story did it become?

The Polar Bear Cup starts tomorrow

Starting tomorrow, the Min-Hai
Polar Bear Cup begins.
It is a lively
but warm competition.

To all the organizers, and especially
to those participating in the Minna no Haiku Taikai for the first time
(I am in the Tanka division, though)
I look forward to
meeting you at the Polar Bear Cup 💖

Thank you all
so very much 😊