Two Tucsonans (from Japan) won recognition for their beautiful haiku submissions for the Haiku contest sponsored by the  Arizona Matsuri in Phoenix.   Yukihiro Ibuki (pen name “Yukihiro I.”) and Miki Pimienta (pen name “Miki P.”) won awards for their haiku under the Japanese Language Haiku category. Yuki’s Outstanding one is on page 35, and his two Honorable Mentions are on pg. 37.  Miki’s three Honorable Mentions are on pg. 36 and 37.   Other categories were Grades K-3, 4-8, 9-12, University and Adult.

Yuki has served on the SAJCC Central Council from the beginning in 2012, and Miki has chaired the Mochi-making committee for the 2nd and 3rd Annual Mochitsuki celebrations in Tucson in 2015 and 2016.

In addition, Maeve Welter, daughter of UA East Asian Studies Head/Professor Albert Welter won Outstanding (page 11) and Honorable Mention (page 14) awards for her two haiku as well, in Grades 4-8 category. She is a student at Basis Oro Valley school and her pen name is “Maeve W.”

To read their winning submissions, click on the link here: http://media.wix.com/ugd/f10fde_174d7347792448e6a78c41b70ded1bd2.pdf

Reprint of Yuki’s outstanding haiku (page 35), courtesy of him:

“荒野でも住めば都春の空
Kōya demo sumeba miyako haru no sora
even if living in the wilderness
you’ll find a spring city sky”