Join the JASWDC Haiku Group!

led by haiku poet and author, Abigail Friedman

Experience the beauty of haiku and hone your haiku-writing skills at the Japan-America Society of Washington DC Haiku Group!

This haiku group, or kukai, provides a platform for writers of haiku to come together and develop their craft in a fun, friendly atmosphere. Following a format similar to that of Japanese haiku groups, participants will bring to the session three haiku poems in English that they have written beforehand.  The group then shares each haiku anonymously around the room without critique. Following this, each participant will select their favorites among all they have read on that day. As for the rest, come to the group to find out!

Led by esteemed haiku poet and author Abigail Friedman, the group meets once every two months. More details on how a kukai functions will be explained at the group itself.

LOCATION UPDATE: The group will meet at the JASWDC Office,
located at 1819 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20036

REGISTER HERE!

Date: Saturday, Aug 29th, 2026

Time: 2:30 – 4:30 pm (ET)

Location: JASWDC Office,
1819 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20036

**Please note, due to building security protocol, all attendees are asked to register in advance in order to be permitted entry into the building.

REQUIREMENTS:

Haiku Theme (optional): Heat: Looking ahead to the DC summer, the optional theme for this next meeting is heat:
hot temperatures, humid weather, the warmth of others, spicy foods, heated conversations, etc.

Number of Haiku (required): Please prepare & bring three (3) English-language haiku you have composed.

SCHEDULE:

2:30 pm -3:30 pm: Anonymous sharing of haiku

3:30 pm – 3:45 pm: break

3:45 pm – 4:30 pm: Presentation from Abigail Friedman on the tradition of memorial haiku stones (“kuhi”) in Japan.

**It is important that participants arrive on time, as the meeting will begin promptly and involves participation from the entire group**