ARTICLES
A Full Lineup of Works Packed with the Charm of Hokkaido! Announcing the Prizewinning Works of the 'Hokkaido Heritage Photo & Tanka Challenge 2024'
Tanka Division: Selected Works
Kikuyo Yamabe
On the tracks, a headlight / on the platform, a lamp / illuminates Otaru's snowy night.
■Subject
Otaru's Railway Heritage
■Artist's Comment
The first time I went to Otaru Station was in the middle of winter, and I was moved by its beauty.
■Judge's Comment
The comparison of the lights on the tracks and the platform is vivid. You can even clearly see the difference in their colors.
Hiromi Matsushita
Jazz, soul? / Hip-hop or R&B? / Salmon dance in the Ishikari River.
■Subject
Ishikari River
■Artist's Comment
The power of the salmon swimming up the Ishikari River was overwhelming.
■Judge's Comment
The idea of likening the scene of salmon dancing in the river to various rhythms is good, and the lively rhythm of the Japanese language matches the dancing.
Akira Yamamoto
The screech of Hakodate's / first morning tram reaches the kitchen / from the bottom of the slope.
■Subject
Townscape of Hakodate's Western District
■Artist's Comment
I composed this while looking down at the tram at the Jujigai intersection.
■Judge's Comment
The scene where the public sound of the tram reaches the private space of the kitchen is cinematic and vivid.
Nagomi Matsuda
In Todowara, for Hokkai shrimp / the utasebune boats / fade into the Notsuke fog.
■Subject
Notsuke Peninsula and Utasebune Boats
■Artist's Comment
The sailing boats floating in the bay surrounded by the sand spit are known as a feature of Notsuke.
■Judge's Comment
A poem of solid realism. The specificity of names like Todowara and Notsuke gives the poem depth. The continuous use of kanji is a slight drawback.
Haruka Asakura
Drift ice splits in two / from the bow, as we lead / a meteor shower.
■Subject
Drift Ice and the Garinko-go Icebreaker Ship
■Artist's Comment
The Okhotsk blue sea and the drift ice made me think of a journey through space.
■Judge's Comment
The transition from drift ice to a meteor shower gives a great sense of scale. It has a mythological atmosphere.
Takashi Moriyama
Counting the columns, I exit the dome / feeling somewhere the wind / from Sakhalin.
■Subject
Wakkanai Port North Breakwater Dome
■Artist's Comment
This is from an experience when I traveled to Wakkanai.
■Judge's Comment
Through the wind, the poem is able to expand the scope of imagination to Sakhalin.
Saeko Honzawa
Still in my ears, the softness / of an Ainu song / the sound of a bell echoes in Kamuikotan.
■Subject
Ainu Oral Literature
■Artist's Comment
When I was a student, I had the opportunity to have an Ainu person sing for me in Asahikawa, and it still remains in my memory. It was the gentle voice of an elderly woman.
■Judge's Comment
By layering the softness of the song with the "sound of a bell," the poem is crafted in a way that allows anyone to recreate the atmosphere in their mind.
Sachiko Tomaru
With my husband I go / to the sound of the Gangan-dera bell / the beginning of prayer, the end of prayer.
■Subject
Townscape of Hakodate's Western District
■Artist's Comment
When I went to Hokkaido with my husband, the atmosphere of the beautiful church and the image of Hokkaido's vast nature felt very divine.
■Judge's Comment
The phrase "With my husband I go" is not strictly necessary, but it skillfully connects the Gangan-dera to the hurried pace of "the beginning" and "the end" in the latter half.
mokume_88
Entrusting myself to the slowly turning tram / I commute to Hello Work / in July.
■Subject
Tram
■Artist's Comment
I usually travel by subway, so for me, the tram is "what I ride when I go to Hello Work (the public employment service)." When you're on the tram, the driver makes an announcement when it makes a big turn. I composed this poem about the scene of commuting to Hello Work, feeling the consideration and kindness, while holding anxiety and hope for the future.
■Judge's Comment
Choosing Hello Work as a facility along the tram line creates a sense of drama.
Mashu
From the tram with no air conditioning / I think of the hidden whiteness / of Sapporo in August.
■Subject
Tram
■Artist's Comment
I traveled to Sapporo this summer and rode the tram for the first time. I was surprised by the non-air-conditioned car and composed this poem thinking about this city where the white season of snow is longer.
■Judge's Comment
The mystique of "hidden whiteness" is captivating. The contrast between the lack of air conditioning and the "whiteness" is brilliant.
Keito Kagishi
Knowing the passing eras, a medallion / just sees people come and people go.
■Subject
Western-style Architecture from the Kaitakushi (Development Commission) Era
■Artist's Comment
When I visited Seikatei before, the white ceiling decoration left a strong impression on me. I focused my thoughts on the greatness, loneliness, and beauty of things that remain unchanged as eras change.
■Judge's Comment
The lyrical phrase in the latter half is skillfully symbolized by the "medallion."
wakkochan25
I still can't get over that blue / in your eyes, the sequined / water surface sways.
■Subject
Shakotan Peninsula and Cape Kamui
■Artist's Comment
The sparkling, bouncing brilliance and the gradient of Shakotan blue reaching up to the sky are unforgettable.
■Judge's Comment
The depiction of the sparkling light is impressive. It's also pleasing that the expression "that blue" is not left hanging but is properly resolved in the latter half.
wakkochan25
"The more character, the better, right?" / you say, as we eat mutton together.
■Subject
Genghis Khan
■Artist's Comment
Mutton, where you can taste the rich flavor characteristic of lamb. I hope our future meals will be as lively and well-rounded as a Genghis Khan grill.
■Judge's Comment
It deviates slightly from the standard form, but the way it captures the middle of an interesting conversation is fascinating.
fumi_acfy
In the drizzling rain, canoes dot the river / gliding on the water's surface / like tilting umbrellas.
■Subject
Teshio River
■Artist's Comment
A poem about the Teshio River.
■Judge's Comment
The comparison of the scattered canoes to "tilting umbrellas" is fresh. It creates a dynamic impression.
fuso_aeroace
In early summer, after walking Kamuy Mintar / I head to the sample forest / where a friend awaits.
■Subject
Ayako Miura Literature Museum and Foreign Tree Species Sample Forest
■Artist's Comment
Six years ago, I was captivated by Ayako Miura's works and began visiting Asahikawa regularly. Hiking is a hobby of mine, and every time I visited Asahikawa, I was drawn to the majestic sight of the Daisetsuzan mountains in the distance, always wanting to walk there someday. This year, that dream finally came true. This poem is about that time.
■Judge's Comment
The phrase "after walking" feels a bit too abbreviated, but bringing in the term "sample forest" to conclude the poem is interesting, as it descends from a world of myth back to reality.
