EDIT: karuta card set is complete! you can see the whole collection in this [link]

now you must be wondering what on earth is projK07.

it stands for "Project Karuta 2007".

alright that doesn't really explain alot. what is karuta?

basically it is a variant of a card game japanese children play during new year that trains their memory power and help boost their knowledge in poems. of course, it is a good thing to do during a happy get-together. it's a lot of fun and laughter.

an example of karuta card set looks like this: [link]

this karuta (歌留多 )card deck is made up of 44 pairs of cards. each pair made up of a card with the poem written on it and the other with an associated image of the poem.

game procedure is as follow (this is quite different from the actual procedure of the traditional karuta game, though):
1. shuffle the cards
2. lay out the cards face down orderly on a table or on the floor.
3. players take turn to open two cards at each turn and every player get to see the card face.
4. if the two cards opened happen to belong to the same pair (i.e. the poem with its associated image) the player who open the cards win this pair and keep it.
5. if the two cards do not belong to the same pair, the cards are turned over again face down at the same location.
6. the player who win the most number of pairs at the end of the game (i.e. when all the cards on the table are opened and won by someone) is the ultimate winner of the game.

sound interesting?

hmmm, so what has this to do with my project?
i think most of you here must have a clue to what i am going to do.

yes, i am going to create our very own set of karuta cards with our haikuwrimo entries this autumn!

(cheer? hip hip hooray~~ )

that means: i choose a haiku each from the haikuwrimo entries of 26 participants this year. i'll do illustration and writing of the haiku on the cards. and later i'll get them print out. (at least one set for myself ) anyone who's interested to get a set after everything's done is also welcome to place an order. but that is going to take some time of course.

the japanese cards has 44 pairs because they have 44 onji. for us who write haiku in english, i'll settle with 26 pairs, that is to say, the english alphabet A-Z.

okay, these are the entries i chose:

<sub>~irvon
October 10
A man cycling
And two girls
Almost cycling.

~Utanapishtim
26 October
Be warm and well,
My Sunflower.

=MSJames
Oct 12th
children
chasing leaves
chasing children

*a-random-quigle
day 234
dry leaves
flames raise them
to the sky again

`Beccalicious
24.
Enchanting horses
hurtle in fields;
Like spirits.

~mrsvelvetears
October 26
Forgotten window
reveals only the full moon –
the head of a pin

*monkgryphon
Oct. 21
golden red sunset
accents the changing
of the leaves

~GyoShin
Hidden chirp
midnight lullaby serenade,
a green façade.

*HaikuKitty
I walk this path unaware
as stories unfold,
right beneath my feet
10-23-2007

~Esin
24.
just how clever were my words
if I've lost a friend?

~ancient-seeker
10.
Kowhai trees
branches laden
with yellow birds

*Akemi-Ayura
XX. ChoCho (butterfly)
Late lovers
play high speed tag
before the first frost.

=RetroZombie
-27-
mountains over mountains
clouds mimic terrain

=Keraness
October 6th
nature trail
exploring new paths
a caterpillar

~the-beastie
Day Two
October cold
clings to trees, houses,
throat and nose.

*Itti
12. Paint swirls
through water
like aquatic fireworks.

~Gorghte
Oct 29th
quiet and still
a huskie sits -
stuffed

~chugglepuff
-28-
Regal oak tree strides
Confident against the wind
Defiantly green

*jade-pandora
October 23
Standing in a crystal stream,
a curious trout
kisses my ankle.

=Bogbrush
Saturday, 20th October 2007
Together leaves
and abandoned car
rusting

~vix0r
October Eighth
unhappy sky,
don't spit in my eye—
rainy day sunglasses

*Cigarash
Vending machine;
Much colder than fridge
Refreshing

~Amy--Louise
10.23
When ultramarine
meets pale wheat
October

~moyanII
day 25
even the pond strider
has six halos beneath its feet.

*RedDragonfly
October 4
black cat
carrying a yellow leaf

*Laurence55
Oct 8
morning drizzle
the aging scarecrow
sags further</sub>


i'll need all the haijin listed above to grant me permission to make their entries a part of this project. a note will be sent to you shortly, please kindly reply and give me approval so that i can proceed.

to the other participants whom i did not include in this project, my sincere apology. i can only do 26 pairs >.<"
also i give priority to those participants who made it through the whole month and completed the campaign.

stay tuned!

~*~*~*~*~

haiku translation index

my default account where i post my visual art

my art projects:
project resonance
project rendevous
the 5th season
Journey