The Genjuan International Haibun Contest was established in 2012 by Nobuyuki Yuasa and Stephen Henry Gill, who had been running and judging its predecessor, the Kikakuza International Haibun Contest, since 2009. The organization of the Genjuan Contest and publication of winning pieces in anthologies was soon taken over by the Hailstone Haiku Circle in Kansai and continued through 2021, after which the contest was discontinued.
Genjuan (幻住庵) is the name of the cottage near Lake Biwa where, in 1690, Matsuo Bashō lived for a time. His residence in this “vision-inhabited cottage” was probably the happiest period of his life, and it was there that he wrote his most famous short haibun. The purpose of the Genjuan International Haibun Contest is to encourage the writing of fine haibun in English and maintain the connection between the traditional Japanese perception of haibun and what is evolving around the world.
Below are listed, most recent first, the results of the Genjuan and Kikakuza contests as well as links to Icebox, the Hailstone Haiku Circle’s website, where the texts of winning haibun and additional information can be found.
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2021
| Judges | Akiko Takazawa, Stephen Henry Gill, Sean O’Connor |
| Contest Officer | Junko Oda |
| Number of entries | 139 from approximately 20 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “A Mead-Hall of the Mind” by J Hahn Doleman, U.S.A. |
| An (Cottage) Prize (3) | “Wintering Grounds” by Marietta McGregor, Australia |
| “The Departing” by Manoj Nair, India | |
| “Call to Prayer” by Matthew Caretti, U.S.A. | |
| Honourable Mention (6) | “Donnybrook Graveyard” by Glenda Cimino, Ireland |
| “Bells on New Year’s Eve” by Akihiko Hayashi, Japan | |
| “Afternoon Memories” by Margherita Petriccione, Italy | |
| “Morning Zoo” by Jennifer Hambrick, U.S.A. | |
| “Great Horned Owl” by Margaret Chula, U.S.A. | |
| “Village Clean Up” by Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Ireland |
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2020
| Judges | Akiko Takazawa, Stephen Henry Gill, and Sean O’Connor |
| Contest Officer | Yaeno Azuchi |
| Number of entries | 97 from 18 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “Snow in Advent” by David Cobb, U.K. |
| An (Cottage) Prize (2) | “Whispers” by David McCullough, Japan |
| “Key West Cat” by Joan Prefontaine, U.S.A. | |
| Honourable Mention (7) | “Jamshedpur” by Kanchan Chatterjee, India |
| “Visiting John” by Paul Bregazzi, Ireland | |
| “Fifteen Minute Limit” by Naomi Beth Wakan, Canada | |
| “The Penultimate Mile” by Geethanjali Rajan, India | |
| “Nagaranishi” by Sydney Solis, Japan | |
| “The Easter of the Blajin” by Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă, Romania | |
| “Sunday Stopping Train to Salzburg” by Dick Pettit, Denmark |
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2019
| Judges | Toru Kiuchi, Stephen Henry Gill, and Hisashi Miyazaki |
| Contest Officer | Eiko Mori |
| Number of entries | 95 from 19 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “Memories of a Coal-Miner’s Grandson” by Bryan D. Cook, Canada |
| An (Cottage) Prize (4) | “Seeing in Darkness” by Branko Manojlović, Serbia/Japan |
| “Wigan Flash” by Judy Kendall, U.K. | |
| “White Out” by Marcyn Del Clements , U.S.A. | |
| “Come and See” by Sean O’Connor, Ireland | |
| Honourable Mention (5) | “House of the Sun” by Jeff Doleman, U.S.A. |
| “An Aura” by Diana Webb, U.K. | |
| “Food for Thought” by Ignatius Fay, Canada | |
| “The Beggar near the Palma Cathedral” by Joan Prefontaine, U.S.A. | |
| “Cherries” by Terry Ann Carter, Canada |
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2018
| Judges | Nenten Tsubo’uchi, Stephen Henry Gill, Hisashi Miyazaki, and Angelee Deodhar |
| Contest Officer | Eiko Mori |
| Number of entries | 133 from 15 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “The Forbidden Pet” by Branko Manojlović, Serbia/Japan |
| An (Cottage) Prize (3) | “Way of Lilies” by Marietta McGregor, Australia |
| “Let there be Lightning” by Ignatius Fay, Canada | |
| “Waiting for Christmas in Ohio” by Chris Bays, U.S.A. | |
| Honourable Mention (6) | “Lost” by Sean O’Connor, Ireland |
| “Brazilian Night” by Marina Bellini, Italy | |
| “Red, Blue, White” by Dru Philippou, U.S.A. | |
| “Coal Mines” by Beth A. Skala, Canada | |
| “Flying” by Pearl Elizabeth Dell May, U.K. | |
| “Reflections” by David McCullough, Japan |
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2017
| Judges | Nenten Tsubo’uchi, Stephen Henry Gill, Hisashi Miyazaki, and Ellis Avery |
| Contest Officer | Eiko Mori |
| Number of entries | 89 from 15 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “Season of Snow and Milk” by Doris Lynch, U.S.A. |
| An (Cottage) Prize (4) | “Trespass” by David McCullough, Japan |
| “Feathers” by John Parsons, U.K. | |
| “Soldier’s Woundwort” by Dimitar Anakiev, Slovenia | |
| “What’s in a Name” by Jim Norton, Ireland | |
| Honourable Mention (5) | “Getaways” by Dru Philippou, U.S.A. |
| “Fathomless Ocean” by Gabriel Rosenstock, Ireland | |
| “M PATHY” by Dorothy Mahoney, Canada | |
| “The Baker’s Insomnia” Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, South Africa | |
| “Nesting Bowls” Beth Skala, Canada |
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2016
| Judges | Nenten Tsubo’uchi, Stephen Henry Gill, and Hisashi Miyazaki |
| Contest Officer | Eiko Mori |
| Number of entries | 127 from 16 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “A Small Act” by Diana Webb, U.K. |
| An (Cottage) Prize (3) | “What’s in a Name?” by Ignatius Fay, Canada |
| “The Great South Gate” by Matthew Caretti, U.S.A. | |
| “Arm in Arm with Iza” by Maria Tirenescu, Romania | |
| Honourable Mention (5) | “Love Story” by Anita Curran Guenin, U.S.A. |
| “Majesty” by Geethanjali Rajan, India | |
| “A Spectacle” by Branko Manojlović, Serbia/Japan | |
| “One Grain of Sand” by Mel Goldberg, Mexico | |
| “Geronimo” by Terri L. French, U.S.A. |
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2015
| Judges | Nenten Tsubo’uchi, Stephen Henry Gill, and Hisashi Miyazaki |
| Contest Officer | Eiko Mori |
| Number of entries | 106 from 15 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “Mining Memories” by Sonam Chhoki, Bhutan |
| An (Cottage) Prize (3) | “Inupiat Lessons” by Doris Lynch, U.S.A. |
| “A Cycle Ride” by Shrikaanth Krishnamurthy, India/U.K. | |
| “Cattle Dreaming” by Barbara A. Taylor, Australia | |
| Honourable Mention (5) | “In Country” by Carol Pearce-Worthington, U.S.A. |
| “New Year’s Eve, 12/31/2014” by Earl R. Keener, U.S.A. | |
| “The Visitant” by Barbara Strang, New Zealand | |
| “My Husband’s Croissants” by Margaret Chula, U.S.A. | |
| “Learning English” by Dru Philippou, U.S.A. |
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2014
| Judges | Nobuyuki Yuasa, Stephen Henry Gill, and Hisashi Miyazaki |
| Contest Officer | Eiko Mori |
| Number of entries | 83 haibun from 14 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “Well of Beauty” by Margaret Chula, U.S.A. |
| An (Cottage) Prize (3) | “The Bardo of Justice” by Sonam Chhoki, Bhutan |
| “Caged Birds” by Margaret Dornaus, U.S.A. | |
| “Uncle Walter” by John Parsons, U.K. | |
| Honourable Mention (6) | “There Are Two Moons” by David McCullough, Japan |
| “The Meeting” by Geethanjali Rajan, India | |
| “Prime Meridian” by John Kinory, U.K. | |
| “Independent Dog” by Daniela Kuzmanova, Bulgaria | |
| “New Beginnings” by Barbara A. Taylor, Australia | |
| “Renunciation” by Matthew Caretti, U.S.A. |
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2013
| Judges | Nobuyuki Yuasa and Stephen Henry Gill |
| Contest Officer | Motoko Yoshioka |
| Number of entries | 73 from 9 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “Towards Burry Holms” by Jane Fraser, U.K |
| An (Cottage) Prize (2) | “Happening on Honington” by David Cobb, U.K. |
| “Night Dancing in Star Holler” by Doris Lynch, U.S.A. | |
| Honourable Mention (7) | “The Suspended Coffins of Bo” by Patricia Prime, New Zealand |
| “The Stick” by John Parsons, U.K. | |
| “Tree of Life” by Diana Webb, U.K. | |
| “The Monk of Amida-ji Temple” by Margaret Chula, U.S.A. | |
| “Pelion” by Branko Manojlović, Japan | |
| “Pillars of Heaven” Bruce Ross, U.S.A. | |
| “In the Fog” by Maya Lyubenova, Bulgaria |
Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2012
| Judges | Nobuyuki Yuasa, Stephen Henry Gill |
| Contest Officer | Motoko Yoshioka |
| Number of entries | 95 from 14 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “Jackdaws” by D J Peel (Takenoko), U.K. |
| An (Cottage) Prize (3) | “The Blue Jacaranda” by Kala Ramesh, India |
| “Crime and Punishment” by Cara Holman, U.S.A. | |
| “Yeh Go I” by James Norton, Ireland | |
| Honourable Mention (5) | “Kite in August” by Carol Pearce, U.S.A. |
| “Gandolph and Merlin” by Pearl Elizabeth Dell May, U.K. | |
| “The Unstrung Guitar” by Patricia Prime, New Zealand | |
| “Timeline” by Roberta Beary, U.S.A. | |
| “Mind Unfound” by Sonam Chhoki, Bhutan |
In 2012 the Kikakuza contest was ended and replaced by the Genjuan International Haibun Contest under new sponsorship.
Kikakuza International Haibun Contest 2011
| Judges | Nobuyuki Yuasa and Stephen Henry Gill |
| Contest Officer | Motoko Yoshioka |
| Number of entries | 85 from 15 countries |
| Contest Officer | Motoko Yoshioka |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “Memories of the Sun” by Melissa Spurr, U.S.A. |
| Za (Circle) Prize Highly Commended (3) | “Ladle” by Earl R. Keener, U.S.A. |
| “Last Journey” by Sonam Chhoki, Bhutan | |
| “Remembrance of a Time to Come” Moira Richards, South Africa | |
| Honourable Mention (7) | “Strange Bedfellows” by Margaret Chula, U.S.A. |
| “Kayo” by Toshi Ida, Japan | |
| “Return Home” by John Parsons, U.K. | |
| “Coal Dust” by Patricia Prime, New Zealand | |
| “Hill Country” by Peter Newton, U.S.A. | |
| “I Sigh, through All my Smiling, at Thought of Long Ago” by Gael R. Bage, U.K. | |
| “Winter Subway” by Ellis Avery, U.S.A. |
Kikakuza International Haibun Contest 2010
| Judges | Nobuyuki Yuasa and Stephen Henry Gill |
| Contest Officer | Motoko Yoshioka |
| Number of entries | 35 from 10 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | No award. Judge Stephen Gill reported, “Nobuyuki and I decided not to award a Grand Prix this year as, fine though many of the entries were, we felt we could not find a truly outstanding piece. The endings especially seemed, more often than not, unsatisfactory.” |
| Highly Commended | “Night Fishing with Daddy” by Philippa Yaa de Villiers, South Africa |
| “the godless month” by Jim Kacian, U.S.A. | |
| Honourable Mention (6) | “Not Knowing Names of Them” by Stanley Pelter, U.K. |
| “London à la Japonais” by Diana Webb, U.K. | |
| “Silver Little Reed” by Clelia Ifrim, Romania | |
| “Home Sweet Home” by Barbara A Taylor, Australia | |
| “After a Night of Cold Rain” by Ella Rutlege, Japan | |
| “Psyche” by Angelee Deodhar, India |
Kikakuza International Haibun Contest 2009
| Judges | Nobuyuki Yuasa and Stephen Henry Gill |
| Contest Officer | Motoko Yoshioka |
| Number of entries | 90 from 17 countries |
| Contest results posted | Icebox website |
| Grand Prix | “For Rose” by John Parsons, U.K. |
| Highly Commended (3) | “Close Encounters” by Bamboo Shoot (D J Peel), U.K. |
| “As if It Does So Just for Me” by Barbara A Taylor, Australia | |
| Untitled haibun by Ion Codrescu, Romania | |
| Honourable Mention (6) | “Last Wish” by Jo Pacsoo, U.K. |
| “April Gusts” by Luce Pelletier, Canada | |
| Untitled haibun by Valeria Simonova-Cecon, Italy | |
| “Wanting” by Philippa Yaa de Villiers, South Africa | |
| “The Ark” by Angelee Deodhar, India | |
| Untitled haibun by Zinovy Y. Vayman, U.S.A. |
Compiled by: Stephen Henry Gill
SOURCES/FURTHER READING (PRINT)
- Gill, Stephen Henry, comp. From the Cottage of Visions — Genjuan Haibun Contest: Decorated Works 2015–2017. Osaka: Hailstone Haiku Circle Publications, 2018.
- Gill, Stephen Henry, comp. From the Cottage of Visions—Genjuan International Haibun Contest: Decorated Works 2018–2021. Osaka: Hailstone Haiku Circle Publications, 2021.
- Mittelholtz, Ruth. “Stephen Henry Gill, comp. From the Cottage of Visions: Genjuan Haibun Contest: Decorated Works 2015–2017.” Haiku Canada Review 13:1 (2019), 59–63. Review
- Yuasa, Nobuyuki, and Stephen Henry Gill, comp. Genjuan Haibun Contest: Decorated Works 2012–2014. Osaka: Hailstone Haiku Circle Publications, 2015.
- Yuasa, Nobuyuki, and Stephen Henry Gill, comp. Kikakuza Haibun Contest: Decorated Works 2009–2011. Tokyo: Book Works Hibiki, 2011.
- Zimmerman, J., ”Nobuyuki Yuasa and Stephen Henry Gill, Genjuan Haibun Contest: Decorated Works 2012–2014.” Frogpond 38:3 (2015), 105–09. Review. Available online at the Frogpond website.
SOURCES/FURTHER READING (ONLINE)
- Beyer, Tony. “Review of From the Cottage of Visions: Genjuan International Haibun Contest Decorated Works 2015–2017, Compiled by Stephen Henry Gill.” Haibun Today 12:3 (2018): http://haibuntoday.com/ht123/Articles_Beyer_Gill.html.
- Icebox. Hailstone Haiku Circle website. https://hailhaiku.wordpress.com.
- Lambe, Michael. “The Kikakuza Haibun Contest Anthology.” Deep Kyoto website. http://www.deepkyoto.com/the-kikakuza-haibun-contest-anthology/. Posted Oct. 19, 2011.
- Youmans, Rich. “On Nobuyuki Yuasa and Stephen Henry Gill’s Genjuan Haibun Contest: Decorated Works 2012–2014.” Haibun Today 9:4 (December 2015). http://haibuntoday.com/ht94/AA_Youmans_Genjuan.html.