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 Place | Ann 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 Prize | Jacquie 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 Place | Michele L. Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y. | yesterday’s news outpacing me spring breeze |
| Second Place | Jeff Hoagland, Hopewell, N.J. | cricket song night sky turning |
| Third Place | Frank 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 Prize | Kenneth 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 Prize | Ann Magyar, Brighton, Mass. |
| 2nd Prize | John Soules, Wingham, Ont. |
| 3rd Prize | Debbie Strange, Winnipeg, Man. |
| Senryu Award | Marita 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 Prize | Brad Bennett, Arlington, Mass. |
| 2nd Prize | John Barlow, Ormskirk, U.K. |
| 3rd Prize | Debbie 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 Prize | Hannah Mahoney, Cambridge, Mass. |
| 2nd Prize | Michele Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y. |
| 3rd Prize | Alan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass. |
| Senryu Award | Kenneth 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 Prize | Cezar-Florin Ciobîcă, Botoșani, Romania |
| 2nd Prize | Michele Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y. |
| 3rd Prize | a dee ar, (no residence given) |
| Senryu Award | Hannah 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 Prize | Alan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass. |
| 2nd Prize | Roland Packer, Hamilton, Ont. |
| 3rd Prize | Meik Blöttenberger, Hanover, Pa. |
| Senryu Award | Ernest 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 Prize | Michele L. Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y. |
| 2nd Prize | Peter Newton, Winchendon, Mass. |
| 3rd Prize | Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y. |
| Senryu Award | John 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 Prize | Scott Mason, Chappaqua, N.Y. |
| 2nd Prize | Brad Bennett, Arlington, Mass. |
| 3rd Prize | John Soules, Wingham, Ont. |
| Senryu Award | Ernest 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 Prize | Michele L. Harvey, Hamilton, N.Y. |
| 2nd Prize | John Barlow, Ormskirk, U.K. |
| 3rd Prize | Ernest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand |
| Senryu Award | Ernest 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 Prize | John Soules, Wingham, Ont. |
| 2nd Prize | Beverly George, Umina Beach, Australia |
| 3rd Prize | Alan S. Bridges, Littleton, Mass. |
| Senryu Award | Barry 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 Prize | Kenneth Elba Carrier, Wakefield, Mass. |
| 2nd Prize | Roger Kessel, Osterville, Mass. |
| 3rd Prize | Joyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa. |
| The Elizabeth Searle Lamb Award | Ernest J Berry, Picton, New Zealand |
| Senryu Award | Guy 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 Prize | Verica Živković, Starčevo kod Pančeva, Serbia |
| 2nd Prize | Desiree McMurry, Franklin, Mo. |
| 3rd Prize | an’ya, La Pine, Ore. |
| The Elizabeth Searle Lamb Award | Roland Packer, Hamilton, Ont. |
| Senryu Award | Tanu 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 Prize | Patricia Neubauer, Coplay, Pa. |
| 2nd Prize | Keith Heiberg, Brighton, Mass. |
| 3rd Prize | John Barlow, Liverpool, England |
| The Elizabeth Searle Lamb Award | Kenneth Elba Carrier, Wakefield, Mass. |
| Senryu Award | Ernest 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 Prize | Kenneth Elba Carrier, Wakefield, Mass. |
| 2nd Prize | Darja Kocjančič, Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| 3rd Prize | Joyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa. |
| The Elizabeth Searle Lamb Award | André 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 Prize | Bruce Ross, Bangor, Maine |
| 2nd Prize | Wanda D. Cook, Hadley, Mass. |
| 3rd Prize | Kirsty Karkow, Waldoboro, Maine |
| The Elizabeth Searle Lamb Award | Verica 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 Prize | Marlene Egger, Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Haikai Boston Prize | Anne LB Davidson, Saco, Maine |
| Haiku Villages, Inc. Prize | Joyce Austin Gilbert, Cochranville, Pa. |
| Suseki Publishing Prize | H. F. Noyes, Politia, Attakis, Greece |
Kaji Aso Studio’s International Haiku Contest 2005
| 1st Prize | Elizabeth Searle Lamb, Santa Fe, N.M. |
| 2nd Prize | Francine Banwarth, Dubuque, Iowa |
| 3rd Prize | Scott 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 Prize | Olga Hooper, Okemos, Michigan |
| 2nd Prize | Verica Živković, Starčevo kod Pančeva, Serbia and Montenegro |
| 3rd Prize | Stanford 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 Prize | Darold D. Braida, Honolulu, Hawaii |
| 2nd Prize | Evelyn H. Hermann, San Rafael, Calif. |
| 3rd Prize | Stanford 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):
- Kaji Aso Studio website
RELATED HAIKUPEDIA ARTICLES:
- Kaji Aso Studio and Institute for the Arts
- Boston Haiku Society
- Haiku North America 2001