Press release

JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER’S COMMENDATION AWARD FOR PAKISTAN HAIKU SOCIETY

PRESS RELEASE N0: JPNEMPAK 15-39

Islamabad: 26th November 2015

The Government of Japan has awarded Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation to Pakistan Haiku Society (P.H.S) in recognition of its significant contribution for promoting the Japanese Haiku poetry in Urdu language in Pakistan.
The Commendation Award Ceremony was held today at the official residence of the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Mr. Hiroshi Inomata. On behalf of H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, conferred commendation on Mr. Naseem-e-Sehr who is President of Pakistan Haiku Society.
On 20th August 2015, the Government of Japan had announced to confer this prestigious Japanese Foreign Minister’s commendation to Pakistan Haiku Society.
The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas.
Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata, while speaking on the occasion, highly appreciated Pakistan Haiku Society for their significant contribution in the promotion of Haiku in Pakistan. He said the history of haiku is as much a history of the Japanese cultural atmosphere as it is a genre of poetry. Ambassador Inomata expressed his pleasure knowing that a number of Pakistani Haiku poets have published books on this subject and some are also studying its history and philosophy till the PhD level.
Pakistan Haiku Society (P.H.S) which was established in 1994 at Rawalpindi has been playing a very pivotal role in promoting the Japanese Haiku poetry in Urdu by arranging Haiku recitals in various cities of Pakistan.
Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that dates back to the 17th century. It is the most precise, compact and condensed poetry originating in Japan. Haiku, one of the most important forms of traditional Japanese poetry, still remains popular in modern Japan, and in recent years its popularity has also spread to many countries including Pakistan. Many poets in Pakistan today practice this compact yet profound and evocative form of expression that leaves a lot of room for interpretation and subtlety.
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