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KAJI ASO STUDIO’S INTERNATIONAL HAIKU CONTEST

The Kaji Aso Studio and Institute for the Arts in Boston was founded in 1973 and serves as a center for the study of Japanese graphic and plastic arts as well as literature and poetry. The Boston Haiku Society first met at the studio in 1987, and the Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest has been based there annually since 1988.


Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest, originated and sponsored by the Kaji Aso Studio and Institute for the Arts in Boston, was established in 1988 as a project of the Boston Haiku Society, which holds regular meetings there.

The contest is open to the public, with a submission deadline of April 15. There are no regulations as to type of haiku or senryu that may be submitted. The entry fee is $3.00 for each haiku or senryu. Until his death in 2006, Kaji Aso judged the contest himself; now contest judges are assigned each year by the Boston Haiku Society.

Judges typically award cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners and a number of Honorable Mentions. From 2006 through 2010 the contest was augmented by the Elizabeth Searle Lamb Award, supported by a special gift from Carolyn Lamb in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Searle Lamb, who passed away in 2005. In some years other sponsored prizes have also been awarded.

Originally, contest results were published in the studio’s Dasoku: A Journal of Arts and Letters; now they are made available in mid-June (in non-pandemic years) on the Kaji Aso Studio website. Complete contest information and instructions are available on the website.

This program is supported by the Consul General of Japan in Boston.

Kaji Aso Studio 33rd Annual Haiku Contest 2021

First PlaceAnn Magyar,
Brighton, Mass.
listening for the peepers
he can no longer hear
twilight

Second Place
John Barlow,
Lancashire, U.K.
a dipper skimming the river spring rain

Third Place
Peter Newton,
Rutland, Vt.
breaking news
the crow’s whole body
into its caw

Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)
Marilyn Ashbaugh,
Edwardsburg, Mich.
grandfather’s farm house
a foundation of field stones
returns to earth
Marilyn Ashbaugh,
Edwardsburg, Mich.
summer heat
the willows gather
their herds
John Barlow,
Lancashire, U.K.
all of the purples
deepening in the thistle
distant goldfish song
Alan S. Bridges,
Westford, Mass.
spring freshet
the river wriggles free
of its ice
Erin Castaldi,
Mays Landing, N.J.
day moon
the gentle crack
of ice melt
Barry George,
Philadelphia, Pa.
chain bridge—
my shadow hikes
the lower canyon
Barry George,
Philadelphia, Pa.
my fall garden—
when everything and nothing
are just weeds
Frank Hooven,
Morrisville, Pa.
the old dog
sleeping nose to tail
winter slips in
Hannah Mahoney,
Cambridge, Mass.
the turtle’s rock
just its size
spring light
Jacquie Pearce,
British Columbia, Canada
heatwave
searching for somewhere green
to place the inchworm
Senryu PrizeJacquie Pearce,
British Columbia, Canada
youth rail pass
the unfolding map
inside me
 
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Alan S. Bridges,
Westford, Mass.
the town I’m pretty sure I grew up in
Tracey Davidson,
Warwickshire, U.K.
wicker coffin
even sleeping
she is woke
 
Lawrence Rungren,
Stoneham, Mass.
election season
a politician’s yard sign
blows back and forth in the wind
 

Kaji Aso Studio 32nd Annual Haiku Contest 2020

First PlaceMichele L. Harvey,
Hamilton, N.Y.
yesterday’s news
outpacing me
spring breeze
 
Second PlaceJeff Hoagland,
Hopewell, N.J.
cricket song
night sky
turning
Third PlaceFrank Hooven,
Morrisville, Pa.
subway car
the baby’s toes jiggle
all the way home
Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)Kanchan Chatterjee,
Jharkand, India
at the far end
of my childhood courtyard …
wild roses
Michele L. Harvey,
Hamilton, N.Y.
leaden sky
a scattershot
of crows
Kenneth Elba Carrier,
Wakefield, Mass.
Indian summer—
frantic bees
frantic flowers
Peter Newton,
Winchendon, Mass.
golden hour
the barn’s face
loses its age
Kenneth Elba Carrier,
Wakefield, Mass.
turtle log
the dark shininess
of the newcomers
Lawrence Rungren,
Stoneham, Mass.
summer night
feeling the air
the thunder moves
Alan Bridges,
Littleton, Mass.
street bazaar
the wind lifts a tune
from a terracotta pot
Frank Hooven,
Morrisville, Pa.
hilltop meadow
light from the sunshower
everywhere
John Barlow,
Lancashire, U.K.
goldfinches
gleaning dandelion seeds
morning stillness
Ron C. Moss,
Tasmania, Australia
cracks of thunder
ravens press down
on the earth
Senryu PrizeKenneth Elba Carrier,
Wakefield, Mass.
quarantine …
all the time
I never had
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Scott Mason,
Chappaqua, N.Y.
Pilates for you
pasta for me
two lockdowns
Cyril Ioutsen,
Moscow, Russian Federation
winter dispute
all I see is
the puffs of smoke
Brad Bennett,
Arlington, Mass.
end of the line
the em-dash
of a dead mosquito

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2019

1st PrizeAnn Magyar,
Brighton, Mass.
2nd PrizeJohn Soules,
Wingham, Ont.
3rd PrizeDebbie Strange,
Winnipeg, Man.
Senryu AwardMarita Gargiulo,
Hamden, Conn.
Haiku Honorable Mentions (9)John Barlow,
Ormskirk, U.K.
Elizabeth Hart,
Beverly, Mass.
Scott Mason,
Chappaqua, N.Y.
Frank Hooven,
Morrisville, Pa.
Peter Newton,
Winchendon, Mass.
Douglas Obenhaus,
Sabattus, Maine
Roland Packer,
Hamilton, Ont.
Lawrence Rungren,
Stoneham, Mass.
Tom Sacramona,
Plainville, Mass.

Tom Sacramona,
Plainville, Mass.
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Brad Bennett,
Arlington, Mass.
Peter Newton,
Winchendon, Mass.
Lawrence Rungren,
Stoneham, Mass.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2018

1st PrizeBrad Bennett, Arlington, Mass.
2nd PrizeJohn Barlow, Ormskirk, U.K.
3rd PrizeDebbie Strange, Winnipeg, Man.
Haiku Honorable Mentions (11)Peter Newton, Winchendon, Mass.
Brad Bennett, Arlington, Mass.
John Barlow, Ormskirk, U.K. (2 awards)
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.
Anh Nguyen, Cambridge, Mass.
Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă, Botoșani, Romania
Campbell Mann, Boston, Mass.
Hannah Mahoney, Cambridge, Mass.
Michele L. Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y. (2 awards)
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Alan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass. (2 awards)
Sarah Paul, London, U.K.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2017

1st PrizeHannah Mahoney, Cambridge, Mass.
2nd PrizeMichele Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y.
3rd PrizeAlan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass.
Senryu AwardKenneth Elba Carrier, Wakefield, Mass.
Haiku Honorable Mentions (9)John Barlow, Ormskirk,  U.K. (3 awards)
Alan Bridges, Littleton, Mass.
Patricia Gillespie, Hexham, U.K.
Jennifer Hambrick, Worthington, Ohio
Hannah Mahoney, Cambridge, Mass.
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.
Julie Warther, Dover, Ohio
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Michele Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y.
Peter Newton, Winchendon, Mass.
Marian Olson, Santa Fe, N.M.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2016

1st PrizeCezar-Florin Ciobîcă, Botoșani, Romania
2nd PrizeMichele Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y.
3rd Prizea dee ar, (no residence given)
Senryu AwardHannah Mahoney, Cambridge, Mass.
Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)John Barlow, Ormskirk, U.K.
Tracy Davidson, Stratford-upon-Avon, U.K.
Hannah Mahoney, Cambridge, Mass. (2 awards)
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y. (2 awards)
Peter Newton, Winchendon, Mass.
Meik Blöttenberger, Hanover, Pa.
Earl R. Keener, Bethany, W.Va.
Julie Warther, Dover, Ohio
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Brad Bennett, Arlington, Mass.
Alan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass.
Peter Newton, Winchendon, Mass.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2015

1st PrizeAlan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass.
2nd PrizeRoland Packer, Hamilton, Ont.
3rd PrizeMeik Blöttenberger, Hanover, Pa.
Senryu AwardErnest Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)Sheila K. Barksdale, Gainesville, Fla.
John Barlow, Ormskirk, U.K.
Alan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass. (2 awards)
Beverly George, Umina Beach, Australia
Michele L. Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y. (3 awards)
Earl R. Keener, Bethany, W.Va.
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y. 
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Michele L. Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y.
Roland Packer, Hamilton, Ont.
Julie Warther, Dover, Ohio

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2014

1st PrizeMichele L. Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y.
2nd PrizePeter Newton, Winchendon, Mass.
3rd PrizeScott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.
Senryu AwardJohn Soules, Wingham, Ont.
Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)Brad Bennett, Arlington, Mass.
Alan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass. (2 awards)
Beverley George, Umina Beach, Australia
Gwen Gurnack, Boston, Mass.
Michele L. Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y.
Jeff Hoagland, Hopewell, N.J.
Peter Newton, Winchendon, Mass.
Roland Packer, Hamilton, Ont.
Zinovy Vayman, Allston, Mass.
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Brad Bennett, Arlington, Mass.
Alan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass.
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2013

1st PrizeScott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.
2nd PrizeBrad Bennett, Arlington, Mass.
3rd PrizeJohn Soules, Wingham, Ont.
Senryu AwardErnest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)Sheila K. Barksdale, Gainesville, Fla.
John Soules, Wingham, Ont.
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.
Ron Moss, Tasmania, Australia
Roland Packer, Hamilton, Ont.
Ernest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Michele Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y.
Đurđa Vukelić Rožić, Ivanić Grad, Croatia
Paul Miller, Bristol, R.I.
Jeff Hoagland, Hopewell, N.J.
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Gwen Gurnack, Boston, Mass.
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.
Marilyn A. Walker, Madison, Ga.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2012

1st PrizeMichele L. Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y.
2nd PrizeJohn Barlow, Ormskirk, U.K.
3rd PrizeErnest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Senryu AwardErnest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)John Barlow, Ormskirk, U.K.
Christine L. Villa, North Highlands, Calif.
Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă, Botoșani, Romania
Joyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa.
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.
Paul Miller, Bristol, R.I.
Ayaz Daryl Nielsen, Boulder, Col.
Adelaide Shaw, Millbrook, N.Y.
André Surridge, Hamilton, N.Z.
Quendryth Young, Alstonville, Australia
Senryu Honorable Mentions (3)Gwen Gurnack, Boston, Mass.
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.
Marilyn A. Walker, Madison, Ga.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2011

1st PrizeJohn Soules, Wingham, Ont.
2nd PrizeBeverly George, Umina Beach, Australia
3rd PrizeAlan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass.
Senryu AwardBarry Goodmann, Hackensack, N.J.
Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)Gwen Gurnack, Boston, Mass.
Paulette S. Brown, California
Bruce Ross, Bangor, Maine
Douglas Obenhaus, Sabattus, Maine
Verica Živković, Starčevo kod Pančeva, Serbia
Peter Newton, Winchendon, Mass.
John Barlow, Ormskirk, U.K.
Kevin Goldstein-Jackson, Poole, England
Roland Packer, Hamilton, Ont.
Ernest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2010

1st PrizeKenneth Elba Carrier, Wakefield, Mass.
2nd PrizeRoger Kessel, Osterville, Mass.
3rd PrizeJoyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa.
The Elizabeth Searle Lamb AwardErnest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Senryu AwardGuy Simser, Ottawa, Ont.
Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)Raquel Bailey, Tallahassee, Florida
Ernest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Darold D. Braida, Honolulu, Hawaii
Joyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa.
Keith Heiberg, Brighton, Mass.
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y. (2 awards)
Michael McClintock, Clovis, Calif.(2 awards)
Peter Newton, Winchendon, Mass.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2009

1st PrizeVerica Živković, Starčevo kod Pančeva, Serbia
2nd PrizeDesiree McMurry, Franklin, Mo.
3rd Prizean’ya, La Pine, Ore.
The Elizabeth Searle Lamb AwardRoland Packer, Hamilton, Ont.
Senryu AwardTanu Deo Sharma, Kansas
Haiku Honorable Mentions (10)John Bird, Lennox Head, NSW, Australia (2 awards)
Darold D. Braida, Honolulu, Hawaii
Barry Goodmann, Hackensack, NJ
Catherine Lee, Eastport, Maine
Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y.
Paul Miller, Bristol, R.I.
Bruce Ross, Bangor, Maine
Natalia L. Rudychev, Des Plaines, Ill.
Wendy Smith, Rochester, N.Y.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2008

1st PrizePatricia Neubauer, Coplay, Pa.
2nd PrizeKeith Heiberg, Brighton, Mass.
3rd PrizeJohn Barlow, Liverpool, England
The Elizabeth Searle Lamb AwardKenneth Elba Carrier, Wakefield, Mass.
Senryu AwardErnest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Haiku Honorable Mentions (9)an’ya, La Pine, Ore.
John Barlow, Liverpool, England
John Bird, Lennox Head, NSW, Australia
Keith Heiberg, Brighton, Mass.
Catherine J. S. Lee, Eastport, Maine
Darrell Lindsey, Nacogdoches, Texas
Roland Packer, Hamilton, Ont.
Bruce Ross, Bangor, Maine
Sandra Simpson, Tauranga, New Zealand
Tony A. Thompson, Lufkin, Texas

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2007

1st PrizeKenneth Elba Carrier, Wakefield, Mass.
2nd PrizeDarja Kocjančič, Ljubljana, Slovenia
3rd PrizeJoyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa.
The Elizabeth Searle Lamb AwardAndré Surridge, Hamilton, New Zealand
Honorable Mentions (10)an’ya, La Pine, Ore.
Ernest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Joyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa.
Barry Goodmann, Hackensack, NJ
Kirsty Karkow, Waldoboro, Maine
Orekhovaya Sonya, Moscow, Russia
Nancy Prasad, Toronto, Ont.
Bruce Ross, Bangor, Maine
Nancy Stewart, Athens, Ga.
André Surridge, Hamilton, New Zealand

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2006

1st PrizeBruce Ross, Bangor, Maine
2nd PrizeWanda D. Cook, Hadley, Mass.
3rd PrizeKirsty Karkow, Waldoboro, Maine
The Elizabeth Searle Lamb AwardVerica Živković, Starčevo kod Pančeva, Serbia and Montenegro
Haiku Honorable Mentions (9)Jim Kacian, Winchester, Va.
Beverley George, Pearl Beach, NSW, Australia
Kenneth Elba Carrier, Wakefield, Mass.
Nancy Prasad, Toronto, Ont.
Gerd Börner, Berlin, Germany
Ernest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Zhanna P. Rader, Athens, Ga.
Marie Summers, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
Deb Baker, Americus, Ga.
Natalya Sedenkova, Samara, Russia

The following prizes were also awarded in 2006 but were not listed in the Kaji Aso Studio website report of contest winners: 

Kaji Aso Remembrance PrizeMarlene Egger,
Salt Lake City, Utah
Haikai Boston PrizeAnne LB Davidson,
Saco, Maine
Haiku Villages, Inc. PrizeJoyce Austin Gilbert,
Cochranville, Pa.
Suseki Publishing PrizeH. F. Noyes,
Politia, Attakis, Greece

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2005

1st PrizeElizabeth Searle Lamb, Santa Fe, N.M.
2nd PrizeFrancine Banwarth, Dubuque, Iowa
3rd PrizeScott Glander, Evanston, Ill.
Honorable Mentions (10)Robert Bauer, Wheeling, W.Va.
an’ya, Crescent, Ore.
Wanda D. Cook, Hadley, Mass.
Verica Živković, Starčevo kod Pančeva, Serbia and Montenegro
Barry George, Philadelphia, Pa.
Bruce Ross, Bangor, Maine
Maria Steyn, Johannesburg, South Africa
Rick Tarquinio, Bridgeton, N.J.
Thom Williams, Newtown Square, Pa.
Joyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa.

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2004

1st PrizeOlga Hooper, Okemos, Michigan
2nd PrizeVerica Živković, Starčevo kod Pančeva, Serbia and Montenegro
3rd PrizeStanford M. Forrester, Windsor, Conn.
Honorable Mentions (10)Ernest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand
Michael Fessler, Kanagawa, Japan
Tengu, Russia
Olga Hooper, Okemos, Michigan
Jim Kacian, Winchester, Va.
Adelaide Shaw, Millbrook, N.Y.
Tei Matsushita Scott, Reston, Va.
Barome, Russia
Hiroko Okahashi, Cambridge, Mass.
Michael McClintock, Clovis, Calif

Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2003

1st PrizeDarold D. Braida, Honolulu, Hawaii
2nd PrizeEvelyn H. Hermann, San Rafael, Calif.
3rd PrizeStanford M. Forrester, Windsor, Conn.
Honorable Mention (10)Louise Beaven, Toronto, Ont.
John Bird, Lennox Head, NSW, Australia
Anne LB Davidson, Saco, Maine
Joyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa.
Peggy Heinrich, Westport, Conn.
Kirsty Karkow, Waldoboro, Maine
Karen Klein, Cambridge, Mass.
Patricia Prime, Auckland, New Zealand
Edward J. Rielly, Westbrook, Maine
Emily Romano, Boonton, N.J.

Winners of the 1998–2002 contests to come.

COMPILED BY: Kaji Aso Studio

ADAPTED FROM: Kaji Aso Studio website

SOURCES / FURTHER READING (ONLINE):

RELATED HAIKUPEDIA ARTICLES:

  • Kaji Aso Studio and Institute for the Arts
  • Boston Haiku Society
  • Haiku North America 2001
Updated on September 21, 2022