3rd Senryu Contest! 'Heartfelt Senryu' Conveying Memories with Deceased Parents and Grandparents Opens for Entries May 1
Kurashinotomo Co., Ltd., a funeral and mutual aid service provider, will open applications for the 3rd 'Heartfelt Senryu' contest on May 1, 2026. The contest invites people to express their belated realization of love from deceased parents and grandparents through senryu poems.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 18:41
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 10:01
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Kurashinotomo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo, President: Hisayuki Ban), a mutual aid company for weddings and funerals that enriches life's milestones and provides moving experiences, will begin accepting applications for 'Heartfelt Senryu' (Tsutaetai, Kokoro no Senryu) from Friday, May 1, 2026. This initiative invites people to submit senryu poems based on incidents with deceased fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers, reflecting on affection they didn't understand at the time but realized over time as, 'Thinking back now, that was love.' [URL] https://www.kurashinotomo.jp/senryu/
■ Theme of the Senryu is 'Thinking back now, it was love.' We are looking for senryu poems about incidents with deceased fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers where you realized, understood, or noticed their true intentions and love only after time had passed, even if you didn't understand it then.
'Surprising things, weird habits, catchphrases they always said, things you hated, things that made you feel warm inside.'
Actions and events you didn't understand at the time. However, as time passes, there are things you start to understand, noticing the true intentions and love of your parents or grandparents. This is an initiative to turn those unique memories of yours into senryu.
Please think back on the days spent with your father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother, and discover the love they gave you.
■ Previous (2nd) Award-Winning Works
- It's cold outside / my torn denim jeans / were patched up
- I knew it / the phone wallpaper is always / a picture of me
■ Background of this Initiative
We provide funeral services and interact extensively with the deceased and their families. While not all families have perfect relationships, living people change. As time passes after a death, changes of heart occur, and regrets or things they want to convey may emerge. We started this initiative believing that if this becomes a place to convey those feelings and resonates with someone, it can warm the hearts of both the author and the reader.
■ Application Guidelines
[Application Period] Friday, May 1, 2026 - Wednesday, September 30, 2026 *Valid if postmarked on or before the deadline.
[Prizes] ● Grand Prize (1 work): 50,000 yen ● Excellence Award (5 works): 30,000 yen
● Jury Award (10 works): 10,000 yen
[Submission Details] Unpublished senryu based on the theme.
* Must not be submitted to other contests.
* Must be original work created by the applicant.
[Theme] To deceased fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers: 'Thinking back now, that was love.'
Funny things, enjoyable things, strange habits, catchphrases, anything is fine.
From everyday memories spent with your parents and grandparents, such as 'unforgettable things that make you chuckle, or things that gave you a warm feeling,' why not express events with your deceased parents and grandparents that you now look back on as love, in the 5-7-5 seventeen-syllable format? Please submit your precious, unique memories with your deceased father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother.
[How to Apply] Website (HP below), Mail, or FAX are all acceptable (See below for addresses)
● Applying via Website:
Please enter the text and necessary information in the application form and submit.
● Applying via Mail or FAX:
Please fill out the necessary information in (1) below on the attached application form (can also be printed from the HP) or manuscript paper, and send it along with your poem.
(1) Required Information: 1. Name (with pronunciation) 2. Pen name (optional) 3. Age 4. Gender 5. Postal code 6. Address 7. Phone number 8. Where did you see the information to apply 9. Who the memory is about (Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother)
(2) Note: Please write the senryu and the episode together on one page.
(3) Send to: Kurashinotomo Public Relations Planning Division, 'Heartfelt Senryu' Desk
1. Website: https://www.kurashinotomo.jp/senryu/
Submit via the application form (Search for 'Kurashinotomo')
2. Mail: 8-2-12 Nishikamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-0051
3. FAX: 03-3735-3595
[Eligibility] Open to everyone.
[Result Announcement] Scheduled for late February 2027, on the official website, social media, etc.
■ About Kurashinotomo Co., Ltd.
[Company Profile]
Company Name: Kurashinotomo Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 8-2-12 Nishikamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Hisayuki Ban, President and CEO
Business Description: Comprehensive life services centered on wedding and funeral mutual aid
Established: April 17, 1967
Website: https://www.kurashinotomo.jp/
■ Theme of the Senryu is 'Thinking back now, it was love.' We are looking for senryu poems about incidents with deceased fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers where you realized, understood, or noticed their true intentions and love only after time had passed, even if you didn't understand it then.
'Surprising things, weird habits, catchphrases they always said, things you hated, things that made you feel warm inside.'
Actions and events you didn't understand at the time. However, as time passes, there are things you start to understand, noticing the true intentions and love of your parents or grandparents. This is an initiative to turn those unique memories of yours into senryu.
Please think back on the days spent with your father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother, and discover the love they gave you.
■ Previous (2nd) Award-Winning Works
- It's cold outside / my torn denim jeans / were patched up
- I knew it / the phone wallpaper is always / a picture of me
■ Background of this Initiative
We provide funeral services and interact extensively with the deceased and their families. While not all families have perfect relationships, living people change. As time passes after a death, changes of heart occur, and regrets or things they want to convey may emerge. We started this initiative believing that if this becomes a place to convey those feelings and resonates with someone, it can warm the hearts of both the author and the reader.
■ Application Guidelines
[Application Period] Friday, May 1, 2026 - Wednesday, September 30, 2026 *Valid if postmarked on or before the deadline.
[Prizes] ● Grand Prize (1 work): 50,000 yen ● Excellence Award (5 works): 30,000 yen
● Jury Award (10 works): 10,000 yen
[Submission Details] Unpublished senryu based on the theme.
* Must not be submitted to other contests.
* Must be original work created by the applicant.
[Theme] To deceased fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers: 'Thinking back now, that was love.'
Funny things, enjoyable things, strange habits, catchphrases, anything is fine.
From everyday memories spent with your parents and grandparents, such as 'unforgettable things that make you chuckle, or things that gave you a warm feeling,' why not express events with your deceased parents and grandparents that you now look back on as love, in the 5-7-5 seventeen-syllable format? Please submit your precious, unique memories with your deceased father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother.
[How to Apply] Website (HP below), Mail, or FAX are all acceptable (See below for addresses)
● Applying via Website:
Please enter the text and necessary information in the application form and submit.
● Applying via Mail or FAX:
Please fill out the necessary information in (1) below on the attached application form (can also be printed from the HP) or manuscript paper, and send it along with your poem.
(1) Required Information: 1. Name (with pronunciation) 2. Pen name (optional) 3. Age 4. Gender 5. Postal code 6. Address 7. Phone number 8. Where did you see the information to apply 9. Who the memory is about (Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother)
(2) Note: Please write the senryu and the episode together on one page.
(3) Send to: Kurashinotomo Public Relations Planning Division, 'Heartfelt Senryu' Desk
1. Website: https://www.kurashinotomo.jp/senryu/
Submit via the application form (Search for 'Kurashinotomo')
2. Mail: 8-2-12 Nishikamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-0051
3. FAX: 03-3735-3595
[Eligibility] Open to everyone.
[Result Announcement] Scheduled for late February 2027, on the official website, social media, etc.
■ About Kurashinotomo Co., Ltd.
[Company Profile]
Company Name: Kurashinotomo Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 8-2-12 Nishikamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Hisayuki Ban, President and CEO
Business Description: Comprehensive life services centered on wedding and funeral mutual aid
Established: April 17, 1967
Website: https://www.kurashinotomo.jp/