Greek national, Japanese university student win Fourth Japan-EU English Haiku Contest

EU News 382/2013

2 September 2013

Mr Giorgos Paximadis of Greece and Ms Misato Oi of Japan have been declared the winners of the Fourth Japan-EU English Haiku Contest, co-organised by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan this summer.

A three-member jury looked at a total of 710 entries that were received between 3 June and 1 August – 185 from Japanese and 525 from EU Member State nationals. The figure is the largest since the annual contest was launched on the occasion of the 2010 EU-Japan Summit.

The haiku penned by Mr Paximadis won first prize among EU entries, and he will be invited by the Japanese Foreign Ministry to visit the city of Matsuyama, which is considered the birthplace of modern Japanese haiku. Meanwhile, the Delegation of the EU to Japan will arrange for Ms Oi, whose work won first prize among Japanese entries, to visit Belgium, the home of European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, who is himself an avid haikuist.

Five works from each of the two sections were also given honourable mention.

A list of the haikus that won first prize and honourable mentions can be found here:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000012958.pdf

For inquiries, please contact the European Policy Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Tel. 5501-8000 (ext. 2604).

For more information, please contact:
Rudie Filon                 Tel: 03-5422-6030/mobile: 090-6533-0576
Rudie.Filon@eeas.europa.eu
Mari Koseki                Tel: 03-5422-6034
Mari.Koseki@eeas.europa.eu
Miwako Suetsune       Tel: 03-5422-6035 / Miwako.Suetsune@eeas.europa.eu
Digital Media:
Vicente J. Luna      Tel: 03-5422-6038 / Vicente.Luna-Ganuza@eeas.europa.eu

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