There was a new year's annual ceremony called uta kai hajime (歌会始)at the Imperial Palace yesterday. Uta kai hajime is the first meeting for making poems. This imperial household ceremony started in the 13th century, and general people were able to join since 1874. This year's theme was sei (生), life.
21,180 poems were made by general people, and 10 of them were selected. The youngest was 14 years old, and the oldest was 80 years old. Their poems were read out according to the traditional intonation and melody, followed by selectors', special guest's, imperial family members', crown princess', and crown prince's poem.
After that Empress' poem was read out twice, and finally Emperor's poem was read out for three times.
There are many types of peoms in Japan, but this was so-called waka (和歌: Japanese poem) or tanka (短歌: short poem ）which consists of 5 units of go shichi go shichi shichi (5-7-5-7-7), 31 sound.
Next year's theme is hikari (光), light. 184 people from 26 countries applied this year. Why don't you try to make the one? The closing date is Sep. 30, 2009.
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