World Haiku Review - Multimedia

World Haiku Festival 2000 - A Photo Album

To commemorate the first anniversary of the World Haiku Festival 2000 London-Oxford Conference 25 - 30 August 2000, The World Haiku Club is pleased to display a photo album of the Festival. This album will take you to various scenes of this memorable six-day event which started something in the world haiku movement. You will see some familiar figures reading their papers or giving key-note speech. Also, you will be able to put a name and face together if you don't know the person already. All in all, there were nearly 100 registered participants from twenty countries. Quite a few of them are in this album, not only in serious discussion but also doing a ginko, relaxing in a park or performing tea ceremony. For those who went to England to participate in WHF2000, the album will help re-experiencing those happy and merry six days in the beautiful English summer. For those who did not participate, this album might tempt them to take part in WHC's future events. The photographs have been generously donated to the WHC by participants. We apologise that owing to the space limitations, only a third of the participants appear in this album which is intended merely to give you a flavour of the Conference. Enjoy!

[Click on the small image to see a larger version]

	Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, London. WHF2000 London Conference was held at Daiwa Anglo-Japanese House which is part of this building. Elegant Georgian style was fitting for the Conference dealing with an art coming from old Japan. The Conference was done in style and taste, albeit heated as far as the discussion was concerned. The Conference moved to Oxford to complete its six days rich schedule.
	Part of the exhibit of Photo-Haiku organised by Mitty Abe, WHChaikumultimedia Director & Editor, and Bob Talbot of Great Britain, a WHC member. Other photo-haiku were displayed in portfolios. It was a very popular corner.
	"One Hundred Haiku by One Hundred Haijin", an exhibition organised by Gunma Prefectural Museum of Literature and WHC, showing the work by 100 leading contemporary Japanese haiku poets in modern calligraphy (English version) as the centrepiece of the World Haiku Achievements Exhibition Viewing the Exhibition are Sonia Coman of Romania and Bob Talbot of Great Britain
	Part of the exhibit of the World Haiku Achievements Competition, one of the three major competitions of WHF2000. Some books by William J. Higginson, the First Prize winner, are shown among other outstanding publications. At the World Haiku Achievements Exhibition.
	Haiku reading session at the Private Viewing Reception of the WHC World Haiku Achievements Exhibition, 15 August 2000 at Daiwa Anglo-Japanese House, Regent's Park, London (the Exhibition from 15 to 25 August 2000). In the centre, wearing a blue shirt, is Ion Codrescu and his wife, Mihaela, of Romania. Behind the group are several abstract paintings inspired by haiku, a solo exhibition of Osamu Asano of Kamakura, Japan, especially brought for WHF2000 from Japan.
	Exhibition of abstract Paintings inspired by haiku, a solo show of Osamu Asano, Kamakura, Japan, was brought from Japan especially for the WHF2000 haiku exhibitions. A sequel of Asano's exhibit is being organised by the Embassy of Japan, London in collaboration with the WHC, for October 2001 at the Embassy. On left, Osamu Asano; on right, Susumu Takiguchi.
	Sonia Coman of Romania was appointed by WHC as "World Haiku Ambassador" by Chairman Susumu Takiguchi at the Grand Welcome Reception at Embassy of Japan, London, on 25 August 2000. Sonia is announcing the winners of WHC's World Haiku Poems Competition as the Chairman looks on. After this, she made an Ambassadorial speech to the applause of over 200 guests and audience, including the Japanese Ambassador to Britain, Ambassador Sadayuki Hayashi who is Patron of WHC, together with Sir Peter Parker.
	One of a series of papers which formed a sequel to Professor Haruo Shirane's well-known "Beyond the Haiku Moment" essay, was delivered by WHC Chairman, Susumu Takiguchi. The critical review challenged haiku conventions prevalent in Western haiku, especially those of North America.
	Martin Lucas, an eminent British haiku poet, commentator and the editor of "Presence", reading his paper on a critical review of haiku and Zen. His paper is part of WHC sequel to the famous essay by Professor Haruo Shirane, "Beyond The Haiku Moment: Basho, Buson, and Modern Haiku Myths". Professor Shirane, Shincho Professor of Japanese Literature at Colombia University, is the winner of the First Prize of the WHF2000 World Haiku Essays Competition for the aforementioned essay, and is an advisor of the WHC.
	The late John Crook, much-loved British haiku poet, reading his paper in defence of Western haiku tradition and the haiku moment and throwing critical counter-argument on Professor Shirane's points of view. He fought against cancer but died in April 2001 and is sorely missed.
	Representing Japan, Ikuyo Yoshimura, a cosmopolitan haiku poet and scholar. She is an expert on R. H. Blyth.
	Heated discussion: critical views were expressed by Professor Jean-Jacque Origas (extreme left), one of the most eminent French Japanologists. Professor Origas announced the winners of the important Masaoka Shiki Awards of the Matsuyama Declaration group at the WHF2000 Opening Grand Reception on 25 August 2000 at the Embassy of Japan in London. WHC established a friendship and co-operative relationship with the Matsuyama Declaration, which sent its delegations headed by Ms. Kimiyo Tanaka, who gave an extensive speech on the Declaration, the Awards and the Shiki Salon activities. The Award Ceremony was subsequently held in September 2000 in Matsuyama City, the birthplace of Shiki. Listening intently are, from the right of Professor Origas: Hanne Hansen (Denmark), Jean Antonini (France) and Professor Toyoo Miyasaka (visiting professor in Germany).
	Putting forward Swedish points of view: Kai Falkman, a high-ranking official of the Swedish Foreign Office and one of the founding members and President of the Swedish Haiku Society. He was also an architect of a joint Japanese-Swedish haiku anthology: "April Snow". To his right is Georges Friedenkraft (France) and Noriko Yoshida (Japan).
	A sense of humour is brought to a heated debate. Left to right around table: Barbara Law, British poet and an aficionado of things Japanese; Susumu Takiguchi, Chairman of the World Haiku Club and organiser of WHF2000; Daniel Gallimore, British poet, academic and WHC's Academic Director; Georges Friedenkraft, French poet.
	A special seminar, "Haiku, Education & Good Causes", was held as the first major event of the WHF2000 London - Oxford Conference 25 - 30 August 2000. In this seminar, the discussion was about the use of haiku as an effective tool for healing, inspiring the sick and people with disabilities. Also, the methods of teaching haiku in school system were introduced. Haiku education through the Internet was endorsed. Dr. Robert Sinnet and Dr. Kathleen Sinnet gave a moving account of their own experience of using haiku for their treatment of patients with psychological problems. To their right, taking notes, is Sonia Coman from Romania, who was designated the title of the World Haiku Ambassador at the Grand Welcome Reception at the Embassy of Japan in London on 25 August 2000.
	Visnja McMaster, a respected international haiku poet from Croatia, talks with late John Crook, British counterpart, in the library of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese House, the Conference venue in London. Visnja made a deep impression on the audience of the special seminar "Haiku, Education & Good Causes" when she read a well-constructed paper on the positive impact of haiku on education and various charitable activities. Her talk was based on her own experience. Visnja also read the paper by James W. Hackett who could not make the Conference for health reasons. John gave two papers, one in defence of the tradition of haiku created in the West. He maintained Western haiku should be given credit and judged on its merits rather than criticised by the standards derived from the Japanese haiku. The second paper was a quick and comprehensive guide through the complex sites and haiku lists available on the Internet.
	British poet, Paul Amphlett, is someone who asserts that haiku should be opened to wider circle of people, especially to non-haiku poets. He creates "home-made" publications to put this belief into practice, such as an anthology of poems by haiku and non-haiku poets put together.
	British poet and novelist, Tobias Hill, graced WHF2000 Conference by his presence and also by giving an impressive key-note speech on the fundamental issue: "Is Haiku Poetry?"His answer was, of course, YES.
	Lizanne Davies, British poet and arts event organiser, has fallen in love with the deep soul of haiku and her learning curve was virtually vertical. Her approach to haiku is to live it in the fundamental and existentialist way. She picks the haiku poems by classical masters and by modern poets and "lives" them. She will not believe in any theory or teaching until and unless they speak to her soul.
	DeVar Dahl, Canadian poet and teacher, loved every minute of the WHF2000 Conference. At the Grand Welcome Reception in the Embassy of Japan, London, on 25 August 2000, DeVar read by proxy the special message sent from William J. Higginson to an audience of over 200.
	Dr. Judit Vihar, Professor of Japanese studies at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary, is an eminent schoar of Japanese literature. She teaches the Japanese language and literature. She is also well-respected in her translation work, which includes Chikamatsu Monzaemon, Akutagawa Ryunosuke and Oe Kenzaburo. She attended the WHF2000 London - Oxford Conference as a scholar of the Japan Foundation exchange scheme.
	Rob Scott, a haiku poet originally from Australia, has lived in Japan and now lives in the Netherlands. He has thus acquired knowledge and direct experience of both East and West. Better still he has gained independence of mind as he is detached from Japan as well as from his homeland. This is reflected in his haiku which is different from the usual haiku seen in the West and from Japanese haiku.
	Hanne Hansen of Denmark has degrees in both Geography and English. She started to write haiku in earnest in 1986 while staying in Japan. During this time, she studied haiku at the Museum of Haiku Literature, Tokyo. Her haiku and articles on haiku have been published in Denmark and Japan. She presently teaches Danish to immigrants and refugees.
	Max Verhart is a Dutch poet and Chairman of Haiku Circle Netherlands. He has been writing haiku for over twenty years. He writes haiku in Dutch and in English. Critical of the rigidity seen in some traditional haiku schools and searches for originality, quality and innovation, similar to the position of the WHC. He wishes to make HCN more international.
	WHF2000 was not just for reading papers and discussing the minutia of haiku issues. It was also about relaxation and friendship! From the very start, an uncommon atmosphere of merriment and friendship emerged spontaneously and it spread among participants and guests during the six days in London and in Oxford. A beautiful English summer added to the euphoric feeling. From left to right: Martin Lucas (UK), Visnja McMaster (Croatia) and DeVar Dahl (Canada).
	The WHF2000 Conference was held for three days in London and for a further three days in Oxford. This magnificent building is an old manor house with a vast garden and is situated on a hill to the East of Oxford City Centre. It now belongs to Oxford Brookes University, one of many supporting organisations of the WHF2000. We were blessed with perfect English summer weather.
	The keynote speech was delivered by Ion Codrescu, poet and artist from Romania. Ion is Editor of the highly-claimed haiku magazine "ALBATROSS". He and his wife, Mihaela, organised the now legendary international haiku conferences which have been held twice in Romania. They both came to Britain two weeks before the WHF2000 started especially to help. They put in long hours every day to complete the final preparations.
	Les Trois Mousquetaires from France, explaining the position of haiku in France and its future. Alain Kervern is saying there is no haiku society in France as there is no need for it and they are expelling any politics out of haiku. To his left, Georges Friedenkraft and right, Jean Antonini.
	Kimiyo Tanaka led the delegation of the Matsuyama Declaration to attend WHF2000. She gave a comprehensive speech on the Declaration, the Masaoka Shiki Awards and the Shiki Salon. WHC concluded with the Matsuyama Declaration, a friendship and co-operative relationship for the development of international haiku movement.
	A computer meltdown of a few weeks before the festival caused the loss of all data including the policy speech. Susumu Takiguchi (standing on the right, facing the audience) gave his speech extemporaneously at the only out-door lecture held during the six-day Conference. Spelling out major challenges which the contemporary world haiku community faced, the speech also offered ways these should be tackled.
	Toshio Yoshida, a haijin of the Modern Haiku Association, listening intently to the policy speech.
	Sagicho Aihara is a haijin of Matsuyama and is very close to Tohta Kaneko at the Modern Haiku Association. A survivor of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima, Sagicho's haiku on the subject and on the World War II are poignant and of exceptional quality. It was his influence that convinced many of the participating Japanese poets to make the special trip to England to participate in the WHF2000.
	Sonia Coman of Romania reading haiku poems from her published anthology. She is a child prodigy and has already won many prizes for her excellent haiku. She speaks many languages and is now learning Japanese. She is already an accomplished artist.
	Akemi Solloway demonstrating the tea ceremony. Her beautiful white kimono took participants' breath away. Solloway is an expert of the history of kimono. As lecturer, she gives talks and workshops on various aspects of Japanese culture at her college as well as at schools and community centres in the UK.
	A typical scene of WHF2000 Conference: keen audience listening, taking copious notes and interpreting away! The young lady in the middle of the front row is Fay Aoyagi, a well-known haiku poet resident in America and one of the very best interpreters in the world. She interpreted from English into Japanese and vice versa for almost 24 hours a day for six days and was still standing! To the left of her is Takeo Fukutomi from Kyushu, Japan. To the right of her is Inga Uhlemann, a German haiku poet living in Kyoto.
	Grand hall turned Lecture Theatre at Headington Hill Hall, Oxford Brookes University. Here, many fine papers were read, key-note speeches delivered and critical discussions held under the two main themes of the WHF2000 London-Oxford Conference 25 - 30 August 2000: "Challenging Conventions" and "Charting Our Future".

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