HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE
Naviarhaiku 544

out of my dreams
the distant croaking
green frogs
 
Ryōkan Taigu was a Japanese poet and calligrapher who lived during the Edo period. A Buddhist monk who lived much of his life as a hermit, Taigu spent most of his time writing poetry, calligraphy, and communing with nature. His poetry is often very simple and inspired by nature.

haiku by Ryōkan Taigu

picture by Sora Sagano

Submission deadline: 12th June 2024

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Out of My Dreams

Out Of My Dreams (naviarhaiku544)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 550

The huge setting sun -
little remains of
its power

Takahama Kyoshi was a Japanese poet active during the Shōwa period of Japan. He was the editor of the haiku magazine Hototogisu (previously edited by Shiki), where he promoted a more traditional style of haiku, as opposed to other popular schools which did not follow the pattern of seventeen syllables at that time.

Kyoshi also highlighted the symbolic function of the kigo (the seasonal reference), even though the more modern trends were already tending towards seasonless haiku.

Haiku by Takahama Kyoshi

Picture by Artem Sapegin

Submission deadline: 24th July 2024

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

The Remains

The Remains (naviarhaiku550)

naviarhaiku551 – Imagine a temple

July 24, 2024

Imagine a temple,
where only white azaleas bloom—
a pure white haven.

by: Sôen Nakagawa

Sôen Nakagawa was a key figure in the transmission of Zen Buddhism from Japan to the Western world. His teachings emphasized the importance of direct experience and the integration of Zen philosophy into everyday life.

Haiku by Sôen Nakagawa

Picture by pierangelo bettoni

A Pure White Haven

A Pure White Haven (naviarhaiku551)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 552

Stretching ahead -
the straight road,
loneliness.

A wandering poet and ascetic Zen priest, Santōka was a disciple of Ogiwara Seisensui, one of the first poets to discard the traditional use of the 5-7-5 structure in haiku.

Santōka’s poetry emphasizes the necessity of sabi (solitude) in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment and serenity.
 
Haiku by Santoka Taneda

Picture by Devin Justesen

Submission deadline: 7th August 2024

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Loneliness

Loneliness (naviarhaiku552)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 554

In the light of the lamp
I can see the wind -
snowy night

Ōshima Ryōta was a Japanese poet of the Edo period. Some sources say he was a disciple of Yosa Buson, while others say his master was Hattori Ransetsu. He's mostly remembered for his essay “Bashō ku kai” 芭蕉句解 ('Study of Bashō's haiku') published in 1759, a magnum opus of his studies and literary theories on Matsuo Bashō's work.
 

Haiku by Ōshima Ryōta (tr. by Grzegorz Sionkowski)

Picture by Ilias Gainutdinov

Submission deadline: 21st August 2024

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Snowy Night

Snowy Night (naviarhaiku554)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 555

they spoke no words
the visitor, the host
and the white chrysanthemum

For this week's challenge, I picked another poem by Ōshima.

Ōshima Ryōta was a Japanese poet of the Edo period. Some sources say he was a disciple of Yosa Buson, while others say his master was Hattori Ransetsu. He's mostly remembered for his essay “Bashō ku kai” 芭蕉句解 ('Study of Bashō's haiku') published in 1759, a magnum opus of his studies and literary theories on Matsuo Bashō's work.

Haiku by Ōshima Ryōta

Picture by Ioann-Mark Kuznietsov

Submission deadline: 28th August 2024

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum (naviarhaiku555)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 556

heaven and earth
still not rent asunder -
morning mist

Genkaibō was a Japanese poet and monk from the Edo period.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't find more information about him. I came across this poem in The Penguin Book of Haiku, but there's no mention of Genkaibō's life or other works. I also found one of his poems in a 1991 edition of the Frogpond haiku journal. If anyone else has more information on this mysterious haiku poet, please get in touch and I'll update the description.


Haiku by Genkaibō

Picture by Markus Spiske

Submission deadline: 4th September 2024

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Morning Mist

Morning Mist (naviarhaiku556)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 561

stars on the pond...
again the pitter-pattering
freezing drizzle

Tachibana Hokushi, whose real name was Tachibana Genjiro, was born in Kanazawa in 1665. Hokushi was one of Basho’s most famous students at the time, and he even accompanied the great master during part of his famous journey through the narrow roads of the North, from Kanazawa to Matsuoka.

Haiku by Tachibana Hokushi

Picture by Cris S.
 
Submission deadline: 9th October 2024

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Cruel Cycle Of Life

Cruel Cycle Of Life (naviarhaiku561)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 562

Through a world of sound
the only filter I have
my discerning ear
 
Jason Richardson is a Leeton-based musician and poet who’s collaborated with Naviar many times over the last few years: in 2014 his music was part of the sound installation we made for the State of Origin exhibition in London. In 2017, Jason and I curated together the exhibition Crossing Streams in Narrandera. In 2021, I interviewed Jason as part of our series of online events, Naviar Virtual. You can listen to our interview on Naviar’s YouTube channel.

Haiku by Jason Richardson

Picture by Nadiia Ploshchenko

Submission deadline: 16th October 2024

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Edge of Sound

Edge of Sound (naviarhaiku562)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 564

Fog clears away:
the waterfall shows up
bit by bit.
 
Undoubtedly one of the most important Japanese novelists in modern history, Natsume Sōseki began his career publishing haiku and renku poems in a number of newspapers and periodicals. Early in his career he met Masaoka Shiki, who encouraged him to become a writer and tutored him in the art of composing haiku.

Between 1900 and 1903 he studied at the UCL in London, but this proved to be quite a dramatic experience for the young Soseki. Despite this, when Soseki returned to Japan, he exploded into prolific writing activity.

Haiku by Natsume Soseki

Picture by Ifan Bima

Submission deadline: 30th October 2024

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Endless Descent

Endless Descent (naviarhaiku564)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 567

Above my head -
The burning summer sky,
Begging and walking.
 

Haiku featured in the collection "Fire on the Mountain: the Selected Haiku of a Wandering Zen Monk Taneda Santôka". Japanese, and English translated by Hisashi Miura and James Green.

A wandering poet and ascetic Zen priest, Santōka was a disciple of Ogiwara Seisensui, one of the first poets to discard the traditional use of the 5-7-5 structure in haiku.

Santōka’s poetry emphasizes the necessity of sabi (solitude) in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment and serenity.

Haiku by Santoka Taneda

Picture by Wayne Low

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Season Of Light

Season Of Light (naviarhaiku567)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 568

liquid flowers hum
each donning Dali’s moustache -
Narcissus shatters
 

Darren Bourne’s surreal poem came to life while he was making AI video experiments based on Salvador Dalí’s Metamorphosis of Narcissus.

"According to expert Jane Reichhold, the hai of haiku means “joke, or fun, or unusual”, which is part of the inspiration behind the name halF unusuaL, the experimental electronic music project of Darren Bourne, who also writes haiku and has been published by the British Haiku Society."

You can find Darren’s music on Soundcloud and Youtube, and check out his website to find out more about his publications and merchandise.

Haiku by Darren Bourne

Picture by Jr Korpa



To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Nature's Broken Beauty

Nature's Broken Beauty (naviarhaiku568)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 570

washing up the mountain
a colourless rain of autumn
waters unseen

Ueda Akinari was a Japanese author of the Edo period. His interest in folklore and the supernatural resulted in two masterpieces of Japanese literature, the ghost story collections Ugetsu Monogatari ("Tales of Rain and the Moon") and Harusame Monogatari ("Tales of Spring Rain").

Haiku by Ueda Akinari

Picture by Nathan Anderson

Pieces Of A Grey Sky

Pieces Of A Grey Sky (naviarhaiku570)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku576

Amongst the rushes,
a stillness comes over us -
Heron in winter.

roekin is a mark of gratitude; an attribution to all that is; kin.
Dependently arising, from a life lived simply, peace+haiku is the growing collection of poetry and writings attributed to roekin. The collection can be found at https://www.roekin.com

This haiku poem is part of the Naviar haiku music challenge, where artists are invited to make music in response to a weekly assigned haiku poem. Participation is free and there are no limitations in the songs’ length or genre.

You have seven days from the posting of this haiku to submit your track. For information on how to make a submission, visit the Naviar Haiku Music Challenge page: https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Submission deadline: 22nd January 2025

All Over The Place

All Over The Place (naviarhaiku576)

Chanakya

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 582

here and there
upon scorched fields
wild violets

Arii Shokyu-Ni was a haiku poetess during the Edo period who began a wandering life after running away from her husband at 29 with the haiku poet Kohaku. Just like Matsuo Basho, "the Nun Shokyu" traveled to the Deep North of Japan.
 

Haiku by Arii Shokyu-Ni

Picture by A C
 

Submission deadline:5th March 2025

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Savage Colors

Savage Colors (naviarhaiku582)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 600

thinking of us
the sound of the wind
between the pines

Andrea Cecon is a hearing aid technician, traveler, and internationally published author. His first ebook won third place in the 2011 Sharp Write Book Awards (poetry category). He resides in Cividale, Italy, with his wife, Russian author Valeria Simonova-Cecon. He finds inspiration in memories, travel, and everyday life…

Haiku by Andrea Cecon

Photography by Ali Kazal

Submission deadline: July 9, 2025
For more information and to participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

The Sound Of Wind

The Sound Of Wind (naviarhaiku600)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 603

insect tremolo
soberingly cools the heat
of farmland roads

Kogetsu Eguchi (1825-1867) was a Japanese poet active in the late Edo period. Together with Kazan Watanabe, he authored the haiku book Tōke shunchō.

Haiku by Kogetsu Eguchi

Picture by Luca Ercolani
 

Submission deadline: 30th July 2025
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Equilibrium

Equilibrium (naviarhaiku603)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 605

just inside the fence
to prohibited grounds
wild violets
 

Shida Yaba (1663-1740) was a haiku poet born in Fukui Prefecture. One of Bashō’s most famous Ten Disciples, he was also the editor of the poetry anthology Sumidawara (Charcoal sack, 1694).

Haiku by Shida Yaba

Picture by Flower Four

Submission deadline: 13th August 2025
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Steps Forbidden

Steps Forbidden (naviarhaiku605)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 606

slightly faint
yet clear
the milky way

Toshio Kiyosaki (1922-1999) was a Japanese haiku poet and scholar of Japanese literature. He published a biography of Kyoshi Takahama in 1966 and co-authored Kyoshi Monogatari, another study on the renowned haiku poet, in 1979.

The Milky Way (amanogawa, or "Heavenly River" in Japanese) is a kigo for Autumn, mainly because that's when the galaxy is most visible in Japan.

Haiku by Toshio Kiyosaki

Picture by Yong Chuan Tan
 

Submission deadline: 20th August 2025
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Gauzy Galaxy

Gauzy Galaxy (naviarhaiku606)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 608

young grasses -
not yet bent
in any direction

Kaga no Chiyo-jo (1703–1775) was a haiku poet discovered by Kagami Shiko at a very young age. She became a Buddhist nun at 52 and wrote around 1,900 haiku in her lifetime. A highlight of her poetry career was presenting haiku to a Korean delegation in 1763, one of the first cultural exchanges of this kind.

Haiku by Kaga no Chiyo

Picture by Kateryna Viderska

 

Submission deadline: 3rd September 2025
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Nature's odd nature

Nature's odd nature (naviarhaiku608)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

naviarhaiku625 

In this snow —
yesterday was the sound
of a voice.

Maeda Fura (1884–1954) was a Japanese haiku poet. In 1912 he published in the journal Hototogisu, where his work was praised by Takahama Kyoshi, who called him one of the best haiku poets of his time. A journalist by profession, Fura lost his possessions in the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake and after years of travelling, returned to Tokyo, where he died in 1954.

Haiku by Maeda Fura

Picture by Marek Okon

This haiku poem is part of the Naviar haiku music challenge, where artists are invited to make music in response to a weekly assigned haiku poem. Participation is free and there are no limitations in the songs’ length or genre.

You have seven days from the posting of this haiku to submit your track. For information on how to make a submission, visit the Naviar Haiku Music Challenge page.

Submission deadline: 31st December 2025

Past Restraints

Past Restraints (naviarhaiku625)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 626

on New Year's Day
tall as a sleeping man...
the clouds

As customary, the first haiku of the year is by Kobayashi Issa.

Among the four great masters of Japanese haiku, Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) was the most prolific: during his lifetime he wrote over 20,000 haiku, hundreds of tanka, and several haibun.

Haiku by Kobayashi Issa

Picture by Atsadawut Chaiseeha

Beyond The Soul

Beyond The Soul (naviarhaiku626)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 628

In the dark beyond,
a sound falls down —
the moth.

Dakotsu Īda trained under Takahama Kyoshi, and was chief editor of the poetry journal Unmo until his death. His son Ryuta Iida, a famous haiku poet himself, took over as the editor of Unmo after his father’s death.

Haiku by Dakotsu Īda

Picture by sahil muhammed

Submission deadline: 21st January 2026 
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

End's Beauty (naviarhaiku628)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 633

when you return
don't forget my house!
departing swallows

Among the four great masters of Japanese haiku, Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) was the most prolific: during his lifetime he wrote over 20,000 haiku, hundreds of tanka, and several haibun.

Haiku by Kobayashi Issa

Picture by Nadia Hristova

Season Memories (naviarhaiku633)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 634

In the temple hall,
sparrows chirping —
evening shower.

Kagami Shikō was a Japanese poet, considered one of the ten outstanding disciples (Shōmon jittetsu 蕉門十哲) of Matsuo Bashō. He was in turn the master of the famous poetess Fukuda Chiyo-ni.

Originally from the present-day Gifu Prefecture, Kagami Shikō became a monk at Daichi-ji Temple, and in 1690 he became a pupil of Bashō, later accompanying him on some of his journeys and recording his last will in 1694.

After Basho's death, he kept travelling around Japan, writing several essays on haiku and collections of writings until his death in 1731.

Haiku by Kagami Shikō

Picture by Seele An

Sonic Drizzle (naviarhaiku634)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 645

practice —
no end in sight
just this

by Darren Bourne

This haiku poem is part of the Naviar haiku music challenge, where artists are invited to make music in response to a weekly assigned haiku poem. Participation is free and there are no limitations in the songs’ length or genre.

You have seven days from the posting of this haiku to submit your track. For information on how to make a submission, visit the Naviar Haiku Music Challenge page.

Submission deadline: 20th May 2026

Eternal Searching (naviarhaiku645)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 648

In the sky, the sound
of a mountain stream —
blossoming cherries.

Yatsuka Ishihara (1919–1998) was a Japanese poet and co-founder of the journal Aki 秋 with Akira Matsuzawa. He also served as an advisor to the Modern Haiku Association (Gendai Haiku Kyōkai) and the Association of Haiku Poets (Haijin Kyōkai).

Haiku by Yatsuka Ishihara

Picture by asagi

 

Submission deadline: 10th June 2026
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Sun's Gifts (naviarhaiku648)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 649

Leaning on my crutches,
I look up—
the vast starry sky.

by Eitarō Shimoyama

Eitarō Shimoyama (1879–1935) was a Japanese poet who moved to San Francisco in the early 20th century, where he promoted haiku. A strong advocate of free-style haiku, he published extensively in Sōun 層雲 (“Layered Clouds”), the journal founded by Seisensui in 1911. Shimoyama dealt for most of his life with severe osteomyelitis in his left leg, a condition that required him to use crutches.

Haiku by Eitarō Shimoyama

Picture by Jack Taylor

Peace is freedom (naviarhaiku649)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 650

Looking back,
cold in the evening dusk—
mountain cherry blossoms.

Konishi Raizan was a famous haiku poet of the Genroku period (1688-1704). He was a disciple of Nishiyama Sōin, and after his death, his works were anthologized in Imamiyagusa, which was published in 1734.

Haiku by Konishi Raizan

Picture by Alexandra

Submission deadline: 24th June 2026

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Lilac landscape (naviarhaiku650)

HAIKU MUSIC CHALLENGE

Naviarhaiku 651

Autumn sunset—
is there something of mine
left undone?

Fusae Fubasami (1914–2014) was a Japanese poet from Tokyo. In 1944, she became associated with Dakotsu Īda and the haiku journal Unmo (雲母), later joining Yatsuka Ishihara’s group Aki (“Autumn”) in 1961.

Haiku by Fusae Fubasami

Picture by Florin Beudean

Submission deadline: 1st July 2026

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

Close to end (naviarhaiku651)

Jesús Lastra aka Voidborn Horde, is a Venezuelan ambient electronic music composer born in 1986. Since 2002, He starts this musical journey by exploring experimental sounds, influenced by ambient music and soundscapes that evoke vast and ethereal imaginary worlds. Under the alias Voidborn Horde, he has developed an unique style with electronic elements and ambient textures, finding a kind of "false enviroment sounds" to give the listener an immersive and dreamlike experience. His music is characterized by its ability to evoke neutral deep emotions and meditative states of patience, making him a reference in the ambient music scene.

@rawpinkbmp
@flat-stone
@zuheodosha
@jalastram
@kabomani
@solanmusic
@nobioyetmusic
@nobioyet
@0x4B

Software

- FL Studio
- Audacity
- Virtual Instruments
- Cubase LE AI Elements 6
- Adobe Photoshop CS2
- WaveEditor Record & Edit Audio (Sound-Base Audio, LLC)

Hardware

- SONY WH-CH720N
- Vieta Pro Way 4
- MSI GF63 Thin 11UC
- Interface Scarlett 2i2
- Condenser Microphone(CM25)
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
- Arturia MiniLab - USB/MIDI Controller
- Nikon D3200
- M-Audio Axiom 61
- M-Audio Oxygen 61
- M-Audio Hammer 88
- M-Audio BX5 D3 (Studio Monitors)
- JVC HA-RX330-E Headphone
- AKG Headphone
- SONY SRS-D25
- Samsung S10 Edge
- Xiaomi Redmi 9C
- Xiaomi Redmi 14C
- Xiaomi Redmi 15C


Discography

Downloads:

Haiku Music Challenge 2025 (MP3 320 kb/s)
https://bit.ly/4x3whtA

Haiku Music Challenge 2024 (MP3 320 kb/s)
https://bit.ly/3RGqXfJ

Voidborn Horde

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