Japanese Haiku is the world’s shortest poetic form, consisted of 17 on (also known as morae though often loosely translated as “syllables”), in three phrases of 5, 7, and 5 on, respectively.
This poem was made by a citizen who was chosen as the first prize in a haiku association in Mihashi community center, Omiya, Saitama, located north of Tokyo. It was going to be published on the monthly newsletter of July, 2014, however, was rejected by the community center. The reason for rejection was that handling Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which declares the disclaim of war, is currently an ongoing dispute and the community center cannot stand on one side. The author of the poem sued the case. A supporting team was formed by citizens, as they saw this incident symbolic of over-regulation and forced surmise by the political administration of the local municipal. In December 2018, the author of the poem won the case. (NAGATA Kozo)