Haiku Post Box Ceremony
20th April 2012
A ceremony to mark the installation of a "Tourist Haiku Post Box" was held on April 19th at the official residence of Ambassador Shiojiri, in the presence of EU President Herman Van Rompuy and the Mayor of Matsuyama, commonly referred to as the capital of haiku, Mayor Katsuhito Noshi.
In his speech at the ceremony, President Van Rompuy presented his haiku on the images of spring. "Flowering orchard, born again every year. I welcome the blossoms." He then was the first to drop his haiku into the newly installed postbox.
The Haiku Post Box is the first ever to be installed outside of Japan. The box is placed at the Mission of Japan to the European Union and is available to all to post their haikus.
Each of the distinguished speakers made speeches on the occasion, which can be read in full by clicking the respective photograph:
Flowering orchard,
born again every year.
I welcome the blossoms.
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