The award ceremony was held at Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka, Tokyo, where I stood on the stage after a long interval and keenly felt that it’s good to won the prize.
I expressed my sincere appreciation for the prize to the guests at the celebration, and then the joy slowly emerged at last.
The next day, I went to the National Art Center to see my work exhibited with my daughter.
“As the light and shadow of the water lily changes, it is drawn into pale purple”
My work, which expressed the world of tanka (poetry consisting of 31 syllables) by Ms. Noriko Hiratsuka in my own way, was exhibited in the main venue.
I got self-satisfaction that the light and shadow of the water lily was successfully expressed. (laugh)
On the day when I was going back to Fukuoka, Ms. Noriko Hiratsuka, the author of the poem in my prize-winning work and a pen-pal of my daughter, came to see me at Haneda Airport with her husband.
She was more beautiful than I had expected, with clarity like a water lily. She was greatly delighted by my prize winning, and gave me a wonderful bouquet like her style.
While there are authors who claim the copyright too much, she just said “you can continue to use my poems”.
In contrast to her clear and delicate appearance, I felt that she has the strong and smart way to live her life.
I sincerely express my appreciation to Mr. and Ms. Hiratsuka.
As I could see Ms. Hiratsuka unexpectedly, the three days in Tokyo were fulfilling.
