Author: Karen Lee Tawarayama (Page 5 of 6)

The judges were unanimous in their deep appreciation of “Love on a Low Flame” by Amanda Huggins. While the longing for a lover is expressed amidst the passing of seasons, the final line reverberates winningly, as if someone truly has come home. Apt phrase after apt phrase were also noted elsewhere in the piece, which …Read More

The judges of the WiK Sixth Annual Kyoto Writing Competition once again extend their heartfelt congratulations to Hans Brinckmann, who was awarded Third Prize for his piece “Restaurant Boer”. This is a lovely and generous narrative, full of interesting details about the first Dutch restaurant in Kyoto, and told with humor and warmth. The author …Read More

This year’s Local Prize was awarded to Lisa Twaronite Sone for her piece “Just the Wind”. The people of Kyoto have always been contemplative of the spirit world. This piece also gives pause and makes us think of our mortality. The judges were intrigued by the “ghost story ending”. The concept of benign, yet mischievous …Read More

The USA Prize for this year’s Writing Competition was awarded to Tina deBellegarde for her poem “Sound Travels”. The judges appreciated the timely quality of this piece. For many, the telephone is now the only way to visit with friends and family members. There is a genuinely heartfelt, wistful longing to this writing. Kyoto’s sounds …Read More

Warm greetings to all from Writers in Kyoto. The middle of May has finally arrived! It gives me great pleasure, as WiK Competition Organiser, to announce the Winners of the Sixth Annual Kyoto Writing Competition. This year we received submissions from writers of various nationalities, based in twenty-one countries throughout the world. We would like …Read More

Thank you to all who submitted their work to the WiK Sixth Annual Kyoto Writing Competition by the deadline of March 31st. This unprecedented time of lockdowns and social distancing has provided ample time for contemplation and creativity, as well as a distinct longing for the ancient capital amongst those who are currently unable to …Read More

Dear Writers,The warmth and sunshine embracing Kyoto over the past couple of days signify that spring is in the air. This is a friendly reminder that the Writers in Kyoto Sixth Annual Kyoto Writing Competition submission deadline is March 31st JST — just a little over one month away.An exciting array of prizes awaits the top winners, …Read More

The judges appreciated the feminine quality of this evocative piece, which skillfully recreates a moment in a person’s life. Residents of Kyoto and visitors to Japan who have had the pleasure of visiting the Ohara area would be able to imagine the story clearly, based on the vivid descriptions and their personal experiences.– Karen Lee …Read More

This was a lovely depiction of a flickering relationship whose end was nigh, although one of the couple did not realize it yet. The overall sadness of the piece tugged at the judges’ heartstrings. Though it might have taken place in any setting, it was the “skeleton of a dry cherry leaf” and autumn showing …Read More

An evocative journey, including vignettes of Kyoto’s four seasons in keeping with Japanese literary and artistic traditions. Nature and human life are skillfully woven together through these images. – Karen Lee Tawarayama ************* Interlude: Kyoto by Brenda Yates Windows flung open, wide night brings itself indoors. But this air’s never enough for me: no melancholy …Read More