International "Kusamakura" Haiku Competition Website > Entry Rules for non-Japanese contributors

Entry Rules for non-Japanese contributors

Entry Rules for non-Japanese contributors
Applicants Open to anyone
Deadline August 31,2025
Application guidelines

Entries must be submitted via the homepage.
Each applicant can enter up to two haiku poems.
Entries are only possible in English, Chinese and Spanish.
Each applicant can enter in different language, but a haiku of the same content or meaning will not be accepted.
Please include name, country, city, e-mail address, and phone number.
All submissions to the “Kusamakura” Haiku Competition must be original and must not have been previously published. Any plagiarized and imitative haiku shall not be accepted.
Fee

Free.

Contest results Winners will be informed by e-mail by the end of October 2025, and at the same time will be asked current address to send the prize.
If the winner cannot be contacted in person by e-mail, the award will be cancelled
Awards ceremony The awarding ceremony will be held on November 15 in Kumamoto city. Winners of non-Japanese section will have their prizes by mail.
Publication Prize winning Haikus will be displayed on our homepage at the end of January 2026.
Judges Isamu Nishimaki (Professor of Kumamoto University)
Judy Yoneoka (Professor of Kumamoto Gakuen University)
Kayoko Ijiri (Professor at Kyoto Sangyo University)
Morio Nishikawa (Professor Emeritus of Kumamoto University)
Prizes ・Kusamakura Taisho (Grand Prize) to one winner : goods worthy of ￥20,000
--- Grand Prize winner will be invited to Kumamoto and will be given Fukuda Reiju Sho (Reiju Fukuda Award). The invitation expenses will be within the maximum of ￥500,000.
・Chikasuitoshi Kumamoto sho (Kumamoto ‘City of Artesian Waters’ Haiku Award) to one winner : goods worthy of ￥10,000
・Tokusen (Second Prize) to 8 winners : goods worthy of ￥5,000
・Nyusen (Third Prize) to 20 winners
Entry