Nagasaki Photos, August 2010

Festival 2010 at Nagasaki

Photo Album

A view of Sasebo City where the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki was held. It has a population of 250,000 and is famed for its naval base, dockyard and shipping.

Susumu Takiguchi, Chairman of the World Haiku Club, delivering a welcome speech at the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki and thanking for the celebration of the publication of his haiku anthology, Okkusufohdo no Zaregoto (Twaddle Of An Oxonian), which was part of the official project of the Festival. For details of the publication, see this issue's special feature on the Festival.

Mr. Lance Jefferson, Director of the sponsoring company Berry Bros & Rudd Ltd (old wine merchant), giving a guest-of-honour speech at the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki. Mr. Jefferson has been in charge of Japan until the company recently established their branch in Japan. He is also in charge of the UK's Royal Family as well as helping the company's Chairman, Simon Berry. The company sponsored the first WHF in London and Oxford in 2000.

Distant view of Hirado Castle in historical Hirado City, the first destination of the haiku journey of the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki up and down the Nagasaki Prefecture. Japan closed her doors to the outside world for over two centuries from the 17th to 19th century, except for a very limited and controlled trade with the Dutch and the Chinese through Hirado and later Dejima Island of Nagasaki. Hirado is also famous for many Continental things to be introduced first in Japan because of its geographical proximity to Korea and Chine, including tea and Zen Buddhism.

The Lord Mayor of the City of Sasebo which officially supported the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki. With him are some members of the Organising Committee, including a guest from India, Reshma Jain, Managing Editor of an influential business to life-style magazine in India, Marwar.

One of the many sessions of the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki. It was an introduction to haiku for overseas participants and citizens of Sasebo.

Members of the special ginko (haiku walk) at the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki. It was held in a beautiful hillside spot, Yumihari-dake Mountain, overlooking the national park of the Ninety-nine Islands.

One of the attractions of the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki was the wonderful performance of the koto music (ancient Japanese harp) organised by Grand Master Kakiwa Takenaga of the Ukuta School. Overseas guests were given a treat of some practice of the instrument.

Nagasaki was a main place of visit for the journey of the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki in addition to Hirado, Arita, Ureshino, Shimabara, Unzen and Omura. In Nagasaki we visited, inter alia, the old Glover's house, Atomic Bomb museum and Peace Park, China Town. The photograph shows a very famous old restaurant called Kagetsu in the old gay quarter Maruyama. With Chairman of the World Haiku Club, Susumu Takiguchi, is the Okami (chief executive) of the restaurant.

Local children dancing the traditional Japanese sword dance at the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki. There were many haiku classes and workshops organised as part of the Festival at different Japanese and American elementary, secondary and high schools in the City of Sasebo.

School children enjoyed both demonstrating modern dance and watching other people's performances. They wrote many splendid haiku poems which were shown at Arkas Sasebo which is the cultural centre which was the venue for the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki was held.

One of the outdoors events of the World Haiku Festival 2010 In Nagasaki. A demonstration of how to wear kimono for overseas visitors was very popular in addition to cherry viewing, joint ceremony of the US Navy and the City of Sasebo.