The 7th Setouchi Matsuyama International Photo-Haiku Contest

Contest Comments from David McMurray

Congratulations go to all the haikuists from 42 countries around the world who entered 3,571 works to the 7th Setouchi Matsuyama International Photo-Haiku Contest. From the 1,484 entries of photo-haiku in English, 60 winning haiku were selected for honorable mention. From this list, 8 works were awarded certificates and prizes of goods equivalent to 58,000 yen.

Grand Prix

the sea silent as lips of men sleeping in its depths --Mel Goldberg (Mexico)

Judge’s Comment on the haiku and Photograph

A tribute to those lost at sea. The more you read this haiku aloud, the more it sounds like the sea. An author and literary critic who once taught literature and writing in the US, Mel Goldberg now lives in a recreational vehicle in the village of Ajijic in Jalisco, Mexico.

Award for Excellence

low tide a child tiptoeing across the clouds --Lucky Triana (Malang, Indonesia)

Judge’s Comment on the Haiku and Photograph

A perfect photograph to match with an uplifting haiku. Reminiscent of Dr Akito Arima's selection of "After the storm / A boy wiping the sky / From the tables by Darko Plazanin Sambo in Yugoslavia for the Ehime Prefecture first prize in 1990 at the National Cultural Festival.
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/haiku/compose_haiku.html

Award for Excellence

white sand left on the soap marine cabin --Jiro Oba (Kanagawa)

Judge’s Comment on the Haiku and Photograph

It was refreshing to read this pithy haiku, especially now that everyone around the world seems to be using liquid soap. Slightly irritating, yet the feel of marine sand stuck to a soap bar is nostalgic of the simple life by the sea. Happily, Dogo Onsen continues to provide its patrons with small soap bars. Author of "sleeping rhinoceros" (2018), and prize-winner of English haiku at the 29th National Cultural Festival of Japan, Jiro Oba lives in Kawasaki.