Update : 2022-8-22
July 30: Oku no Hosomichi Summit in Soka
- Haiku as a World Language -
The summit joined by 45 organizations such as municipalities related to "Oku no Hosomichi" was held in Soka City for the first time in 29 years. The general meeting and some others to be joined by related parties of other municipalities were canceled to prevent the spread in infection of COVID-19.
(1)(2) The commemorative lecture was given by Mr. HORIKIRI Minoru, Japanese literature scholar. The special talk was staged by the judges of the Haiku Convention and Haiku poets, Ms. KURODA Momoko, Mr. HASEGAWA Kai and Mr. INOUE Yasuaki as well as Mr. Arthur Binard, poet born in the United States. They discussed the attractiveness of "Oku no Hosomichi" from professional viewpoints, and Mr. Binard talked about the humanity of Basho from the viewpoint of a foreigner.
(3) In the awarding ceremony of the Soka Matsubara International Haiku Convention, the nine prize-winners were awarded and comments were made by the judges. The two grand-prix winners said, "I a.m. very happy," (Ms. FUNAYAMA Akina, elementary school student) and "I a.m. honored to be given a prize with the Haiku of Soka Matsubara," (Ms. AOKI Hiroko).
(4)(5)(6) A special session was shown by students of Soka, Kawayagi and Ryoshinden Junior High Schools (the group recitation of "Oku no Hosomichi" in the original and the translation) and Mr. KEENE Seiki, Shamisen player for Japanese ballad drama.
Erection Ceremony of Honored Monument of Mr. Donald Keene
On July 28 (Thu), the honored monument was erected, commemorating his 100th birth and his achievements, in the garden of Zenso-an Hakutai-no Kakaku.
