Dear Sir/Madam,

The Mission of Japan to the EU has the honour of inviting you to its first ever Kukai haiku exchange session on Friday 21^st February 2025 that will bring together a small group of haiku practitioners from around Belgium to share and discuss their original haiku with each other and an audience.

Haiku is a type of Japanese short form poetry most often composed, in English versions, of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables. A haiku often evokes an image, a scene or an emotion in a brief but powerful way. Haiku has become widespread and beloved among professionals and amateurs alike and is commonly featured in many language and literature syllabi in schools and colleges across Europe.

“Kukai” is a haiku poetry meeting whereby participants present, exchange and appreciate their haiku.  For our Kukai, participants will have a chance to submit two haiku each, and these haiku entries will then be made anonymous and discussed freely among our participants. In the end, a vote will be taken to choose the most liked haiku.

We encourage all admirers and practitioners of haiku as well as language teachers, students and all those interested in Japanese literature and culture to register for the event and join us! Additionally, if you (or someone from your network including students) would like to join our group of 10-15 practitioners presenting their original haiku on the day, kindly contact us at eventseu@eu.mofa.go.jp for further information. Prior experience with haiku is requested. The language of the event will be English.

The Kukai will be moderated by Ms Kazuko Nishimura, a published haiku poet and author from Japan. She has been a member of the Haiku Poets Association since 1977 and has received a number of awards for her haiku poetry.

Interpretation will be provided by Professor Willy Vande Walle, Emeritus Professor of Japanese Studies at the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) and recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.

Date: Friday 21 February 2025

Time: 14:30-16:30 (Doors open at 14:00) – to be followed by light refreshments

Address: Japan Information and Cultural Centre, Embassy of Japan, Rue Van Maerlant 1, 1040 Brussels

Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/pJUkt2JXHP

Please feel free to share this invitation with your students, colleagues and wider network using the flyer in attachment.

Kind regards,

Rue Van Maerlant / Van Maerlantstraat 1, 1040 Bruxelles/Brussel
eventseu@eu.mofa.go.jp
+32-(0)2-500-7711