This author's way of seeing things is a bit different from us ordinary haijin, but he surely and precisely grasps "suchness." I am very happy to know that through his works, this haiku master is still ready and willing.

I foresee this author winning the top prize in the future. I would be very glad if he could criticize his own pieces more severely before submitting them. Taking all into consideration, I awarded him a second prize.

The haiku below conjures up such fascinating and beautiful scenery, switching the misty environment from a sense of hearing to one of sight in a flash. This is a kind of synesthetic method.

This author senses many kinds of beauty, putting them easily into haiku form.

"Autumn moon": The author realized amidst the autumn moonlight that he finally came back to haiku after having taken such a roundabout course. In the words of Basho: "Haiku is the art and enjoyment of old people."

One of the new fireplace findings.

This author was surely standing still facing toward the horizon. Suddenly the moon appeared and strongly pulled him over toward her. This could be a foretaste of monster earthquakes.

Mr. Martone remembered the same point in the middle of the frozen lake. He felt good about the way the stars dotted themselves there.

Two good honorable mentions.

'Door curtain': If this author happens to have an English or Japanese version of the novel, I would like to read it.

I like the second line of the following haiku because six "s" sounds are effective for this big mysterious river.

Absurdity occurs in this haiku, but at the same time, it's real, indeed.

"Merely" in this haiku is not "merely," as the author intends.

The author might have seen the monster tsunami more than one year before.

"Swan": This is the most appropriate choice for the third line. "Forming" won this author a second prize.

Sensing the changes of the seasons ...

Two 2nd prizes were given for this author's uncommon haiku talent.

"Walker" in the following haiku represents an amiable relationship between the old and the young. Using "orange" in the second haiku, the author dreams of having a magnificent, solid stone house, but in real terms ...

Overall, Helen-san wins a No. 1 placing. "Tea" teaches us how we are going to lead happy lives despite many unfortunate happenings.

Overall Mr. Simmonds wins a No. 2 placing. The same remarks I gave to Mr. Jose del Valle apply to him.

The author's "dandelion" here is a good example of the zoom-out method.

A kind of discovery, but not entirely a new finding:

Another possibility for the following haiku could be: "whiter than / the winter moonlight-- / a barn owl."

OK, stay there. I envy you for your life of happy solitude.

Judging from the haiku here, the author must be a hotel owner's friend. They were probably enjoying talking by the red flaming stove in the lobby, waiting for guests to arrive.

Here lies a 'haikuic' acknowledgement -- namely, the author caught a glimpse of life in a beam of the moon.

"Flickering": The juxtaposition of "thunderstorm" and "young mare" is excellent, indeed. I can clearly see the scene. "Young mare" got the prize.

Standing among the old garden trees, the author suddenly becomes aware of the years she has passed.

Water has stopped gushing from a dragon-shaped fountain. Mr. Durston developed a fantasy and wrote that the monster was sunning itself under a street light.

I think this author's haiku has been getting more and more sensitive and mature.

Mr. McClintock, I'll never forget your excellent series of haiku concerning the Vietnam War. Especially, this:

tonight...wishing / the lightning were lightning / the thunder, thunder (MM)

In the Japanese seasonal almanac, we classify "tsubaki" (camellia) as a spring flower, and the waterlily is included in the summer category. In America, however, authors are free to choose words independently from Japanese haiku standards or adopt two seasonal words in one haiku.

Indeed. I've felt the following way too when my bag is not stuffed with things:

"Summer breeze": I acknowledge the author's haiku talent in the third line.

The big bang is said to have occurred more than 100 million years ago. Today, we see cherry buds' beautiful big bang.

"Strange": The author is looking up at the clear night sky, seeing innumerable stars. One step aside, he can see a different aspect of the universe.

"Weather": A good report, thanks. Interesting.

Why don't you join in the cyclists and get a fresh feeling like this haiku has.

A haiku reminding us where beauty can be found. Let's raise a relief fund so that the planet and people in poverty can find this kind of happiness.

"Chemotherapy": Buddha sitting, Christ on the cross, Muhammad hearing … We believe someone watches over the patient building the final house of cards.

We can easily imagine a good loving relationship between man and woman.

I want to know the words the author said to the highland lass.

Sorry, I was a little bit late, but just in time for the musical performance.

There's a flavor of romance mixed with adventure in this haiku.

"Unmade": Gradually the outline of a heron emerges from the moonlit marsh. Beautiful.

"Heskenn": The selector's name, Hashimoto, is made from two Chinese characters: "Hashi" means bridge; "moto" book -- "bridge book?" Anyway, I like it, as Mr. Heskin does his.

The autumn rain isn't so romantic if the author is going to the hospital to see his friend.

The sound of the vuvuzelas is still reverberating in my ears.

It is the California sun leaving for India. The author loves the silky pink California sun very much. Why India, I do not know.

Origa-san standing on the tundra ... Her purpose in being out in the gnat-filled air seems so vast and mysterious.

I once saw two women on opposite sides of a New York subway car reading the very same Danielle Steel book. "Don't let a haiku moment pass by without recording it" is the rule, and the author sticks to it.

The author is making a call and at the same time looking over at the dandelions, half his mind floating away on the fluff.

Mr. McDonald stands firmly on the 2nd prize podium. All three pieces collected here are of a very high level.

I've never had the chance to see a brimstone butterfly flitting up in the air, but the line "the sun gets wings" is captivating and beautiful.

This refers indirectly to human affairs.

The punchy third line is luring us to the street in the mountain resort.

"Smiles": Jerry-san enables us to look down into the deep abyss of the human mind.

So charming, a child scarecrow. The full moon is casting a smile on him.

The lady cashier is welcoming this newly arrived foreigner, waving an "uchiwa" and wiping her face with a "tenugui."

There were so many crazy hot days in 2010. And on March 11, 2011, the craziest tsunami attacked Japan.

A fantastic butterfly unfolding another universe in a moment.

Mr. Patrick, you should refrain from drinking too much. I know you are a man of great character whom everybody likes.

We have another "the moon in a bucket" piece here. However the first line is good and well-supplemented.

The last word, "sinks," suggests the author is leading a very quiet life.

The author hits a home run here in his first at-bat. Bravo! Mr. Moritz, every evening you beat a drum and sing as the amazing Montana sun is setting... I imagine there could be no happier life than this.

Father, I still wonder.

I would like to suggest the word "cold" in the third line is redundant. Please reconsider it. Maybe it's from the syllabic meter. Even if you omit "cold" from the third line, then the first line counts 6, the next 7, the third 4, and the haiku will total 17 syllables.

The fantastic spelling of the English word "phantasmagoria" attracts me very much, and furthermore the word puts weight in the haiku.

As he was taught by his father, the author released a small fish soon after he caught it. A lovable boy.

"Daibutsu-sama," beloved Buddha dear, it's no time to make up your face.

Interesting, although I don't know how to play casketball.

If it was All Fools' Day in the first line, this haiku would be dull.

The author is a keen observer of the old man.

I am still at a loss over which way I have to take as a 69-year old haikuist.

A friend of mine who looks as vigorous as a 40-year old man always praises fried catfish as a dish. However I've never tried it, to tell the truth.

Only God knows when drastically effective new medicines will come out.

Hey, you're drunk. You're the one who is staggering.

A family gathers around the tree to celebrate Christmas, yet in other parts of the world people may be undergoing hardship. May God be with us and save the people in devastated northeastern Japan.