On April 17, we celebrated International Haiku Day by sharing a selection of haiku written by Ayako Otsubo, a member of the Ehime club in Japan. We asked our FF members and staff to write their own haiku inspired by a place they have traveled to on a Friendship Force Journey, or perhaps their hometown or country. Here are some of the poems we received.
天守台
桜花にかすむ
薬師の塔
The castle tower base,
blurred by cherry blossoms,
Yakushi Tower
– Kingo Fujita, FF Nara, Japan
When visiting Yamato-Koriyama castle to enjoy the vista of the old city.
A photo from Elaine’s home in Amberley, New Zealand.
Autumn has arrived
Red leaves fall like rain
Oh how beautiful
– Elaine Hannah, FF New Zealand
impromptu gate change
a human murmuration
again, departure
– Kimberly Fraser, FFI Staff, Australia
空見れば 雲の形は マグリット
青空が 静けさ呼んで 落ちつきを
銃弾の 音もかき消し 夜の空
風の友 戯れ始め 花びらと
驚きの ウインブルドン 白桜
When I look at the sky,
the clouds are shaped like Magritte
The blue sky brings calm and serenity
The night sky drowns out the sound of bullets
A friend of the wind begins to play with the petals
Surprising Wimbledon White Cherry Blossoms
– Hiro Kato, FF Leuven, Belgium
Escalators hum
orchids nod above still koi—
a forest between gates
– Debbie Powell, FFI Staff, UK
Changi airport, Singapore
Photo taken on a walk through Eugene, Oregon in the springtime.
Sunsets paint the sky
Petals fill the trees above
Mountaintops see rain
– Emma Kahl, FFI Intern, USA
Cetaceans blow.
Multiple puffs of breath rise
Vanishing too soon.
– Marilyn Peterson, FF Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley, USA
Iceland, Friendship Force Festival At Sea, 2022
These haiku honor one of Japan’s most cherished traditions, beautifully capturing the small, fleeting moments that make travel such a special experience. From cherry blossoms in Japan to the bustling noise of an airport, each poem offers a glimpse into the different perspectives of our global Friendship Force community. Thank you to everyone who contributed their creativity and words.
Note: All translations are AI-assisted translations. We appreciate your understanding of any slight inaccuracies.