Moon Viewing 2018 - A Magical Night at the Garden

Luminaries lighting the pathways (Photo by SlickPix Photography)

is that a cloud

or a standing screen? again

the moon is hiding her face

kumo ya kicho hata kakuretaru tsuki no kao

by Den Sutejo

(Far Beyond the Field: haiku by Japanese Women)

Thank you all for joining us for another magical evening of Moon Viewing at the Seattle Japanese Garden! Despite not seeing the actual moon once again and smoke in the air, "Moon" by a local lighting artist, Yuri Kinoshita, was there to shine a warm light on all of us. 

Please enjoy some of the highlights from the evening, as well as selections from the winning haiku entries. Congratulations!

"Moon" by Yuri Kinoshita near the entrance (Photo by Aurora Santiago)

Floating origami boat luminaries placed in the pond by the guests (Photo by SlickPix Photography)

Special tea ceremonies presented by Urasenke-ryu Tankokai (Photo by SlickPix Photography)

(Photo by Aurora Santiago)

(Photo by SlickPix Photography)

Sound installations by Paul Kikuchi were placed throughout the garden. Kikuchi also played a collection of historic 78RPM records donated to JCCCW over the years. (Photo by Aurora Santiago)

"Asagao / Morning Glory" by Yuri Kinoshita was installed under the wisteria arbor with a help of Senior Gardener, Pete Putnicki (Photo by SlickPix Photography)

(Photo by Aurora Santiago)

An ensemble of two dances "Gomangoku" and "Nekoja Nekoja" were performed by Kira Kusumi under the direction of Fujima Fujimine (Photo by SlickPix Photography)

Luminaries reflecting on water (Photo by SlickPix Photography)

Haiku contest was held by members of Haiku Northwest, Tanya McDonald and Michael Dylan Welch. Out of 172 entries below were selected for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Places, and Honorable Mentions. To no surprise, many were written about the hazy smoke in the sky.

First Place

brightly the moon

makes milk of water

drops on a turtle’s shell

                Tiffany Jenkins

Second Place

smoky air—

my beautiful wife looking at the sky

waiting for the moon

                Daifu Ye

Third Place

in my inbox

message from the full moon:

—not coming tonight!

                Aleksandra Monk

Honorable Mentions

(in alphabetical order by last name)

my feet hurt

my eyes are tired

oh! the moon!

                Bill Bridges

even the rabbit pauses

to view the harvest moon

                Bill Bridges

round with child

she crosses the garden bridge

waxing August moon

                Barbie Brooking

shy moon

hides behind clouds

patiently, we wait

                Bryant Cabanatan

it’s for your safety

ropes obstructing normal paths

under the moonlight

                CCR Studios

pink smoke

obscures the moon and more

somewhere trees are burning

                Elise Fogel

deep sigh—

stop breathing so loudly

I’m trying to think about the moon

                Kate Griffith

hey moon,

don’t hide from the smoky air

we want to see your beauty

                Sze Man Li

the red moon blooms

I hold your hand

and feel your warmth

                Corinne Scrivens

a full August moon

my footsteps in the gravel

sound like cicadas

                Jair Trejo

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated and to Haiku Northwest.