The Arizona Matsuri in Phoenix sponsors an annual Haiku Contest (now in 6th year), open to all students and adults, plus a Japanese Language category. Here’s the information on who won in Southern Arizona, published on their website in the 2020 E-book:

https://www.azmatsuri.org/haiku

High School Haiku category –Outstanding haiku on page 17 of 2020 E-book:

Raquelle Wuollet, BASIS Oro Valley, Tucson

“Falling desert snow

A fleeting gift from winter

Granted once a year”

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College & Adult Haiku category

Carolyn Sugiyama Classen (aka Carolyn Classen), Editor at SAJCC’s website and founding SAJCC member won an Outstanding haiku in this category. This is her first win in a haiku contest. Her haiku was on display on Feb. 22 to 23 at the Arizona Matsuri festival’s haiku booth. Page 21 of online 2020 E-book.

(Issei are first generation Japanese Americans, who emigrated from Japan. Shikata ga nai means “It cannot be helped”, which was what the Japanese Americans used to say about the WWII Internment camp evacuation).

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Japanese Language Haiku category

Miki Pimienta, active SAJCC Council member & volunteer, past winner of several AZ Matsuri haiku (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) , on page 28 of 2020 E-Book

“Hana kaoru Habarina yoru no Enkai da

Fragrant flowers Javelina evening Feast”

Congratulations to all the 2020 Haiku contest winners.

2020 E-book : https://4c48e4ff-9f71-42e9-a59b-33f3e36f4621.filesusr.com/ugd/f10fde_d1953f69a1ba48e09f02ebc85654de1d.pdf