2026’s Winning Haikus:
English Category
Adult – First Place – Mary Alves Sella
late February
the camellia ripe with buds
the promise of spring
Adult – Second Place – Louka Crowley
Little lights like stars
Whisper in the pillow fort
Of who we will be
Adult – Third Place – Beth Sherrill
The first white iris
paper-thin fluted petals
soft herald of Spring
Grades 7-12 – First Place – Ema Santander Lopez
So much to live for
Promise me a happy life
Let me see the world
Grades 7-12 – Second Place – Grace Sweetman
I will keep you close.
Don’t you cry, little baby:
My pledge is to stay.
Grades 7-12 – Third Place – Sebastian C. Ciobica
playing in the yard
all the children laugh under
the cherry blossoms
Grades 1-3 – First Place – Lauren Agnello
I planted some seeds
At night. But how will they grow
With only the moon?
Japanese Category
Adult – First Place – 小林 清華 / Kobayashi Seika
独り居と なりて寒紅 強く引き
Living alone now, I apply my crimson lipstick with a bold, strong stroke.
Adult – Second Place – 山本 とう子 ／ Yamamoto Tohko
踊り場に 恋の鞘当 春の猫
On the landing: A clash of love, Springtime cats.
Adult – Third Place – 妻鳥 克也／ Mendori Katsuya
そのうちと 笑ってかわし 月あかり
“Someday,” she said with a laugh, under the moonlight.
Grades 7-12 – First Place – 宮田 至隆 / Miyata Shiryu
いつの日か 祖父を抜かすぞパラレルで
Someday, I’m going to surpass Grandpa—in the parallel universe.
Grades 7-12 – Second Place – 稲見 汐璃 / Inami Shiori
春来る日 信じて行こう 待雪草
On the day spring comes, let’s keep moving forward with faith—Snowdrop.
Grades 4-6 – First Place – 福島 花歩 ／Fukushima Kaho
けあがりで 空へひらける 天の川
Rising above the horizon, the Milky Way stretches out into the sky.
Grades 4-6 – Second Place – 伊青 拓澄 ／ Ise Takuto
さむくても パパといっしょにボールける
Even though it’s cold, I’ll kick the ball with Dad.
Grades 4-6 – Third Place – 小がた みゆ ／ Ogata Miyu
ゆきだるま またあそぼうねやくそくだ
Snowman, let’s play together again. It’s a promise.
Grades 1-3 – First Place – 吉村 衣織 ／ Yoshimura Iori
たんぽぽに ふんでもまけぬ 強さあり
Dandelions possess a strength that cannot be crushed, no matter how hard you step on them.
Grades 1-3 – Second Place – 真下 玲 ／ Mashimo Rei
また明日 かけだすぼくと 春の風
See you tomorrow! I run off with the spring breeze.
Grades 1-3 – Third Place – 和佐 呼春 / Wasa Koharu
おせち詰め いつかわたしも 料理人
Packing osechi—someday I’ll be a chef, too.