On 10 June 2008, The Permanent Mission of Japan sponsored the Reception for 2008 Student Haiku Contest, held in the United Nations Secretariat Lobby. The reception opened with a viewing of the 84 finalist poems, followed by an Award Assembly.

About 450 poems in Japanese and English were submitted by elementary and secondary school students to the contest, organized by the Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese and the English and Japanese Departments of the United Nations International School. The winners of 5 divisions were able to read their poems to the audience, as well as receive awards. The poems reflected the children’s experience and view of the world with sincerity, richness, and even humor.

Ambassador Jiro Kodera gave the opening remarks, where he congratulated all the students for their courageous participation and expressed his hope that the exhibit would inspire the people at United Nations to express themselves through the art of haiku.

The exhibition of poems runs from 4 – 13 June 2008.