Some poets had written haiku before Hans-Jørgen Nielsen published his book “Haiku” in 1963. But it was his
translations based on translations from Japanese to the major European languages, which made the haiku tradition known in Denmark. He presented haiku from Basho to Shuson to the Danish public. The
first part of the book is haiku, the second part is “ An introduction to haiku”. In three essays he provides background material for anyone, who wants to write haiku.
Some of his contemporaries took up a dialogue with Hans-Jørgen Nielsen. They thought that it was not a time for
contemplation but for political action, because of the Vietnam War.
Since then many writers have written haiku as part of their books and every now and then appears a collection ofhaiku.
But it is after the year 2000 that the author´s magazin “Forfatteren” has contained information about haiku
and haiku-events. I have written some articles in connection with the establishment of The Haiku-Network and our lectures have been summarized there. We have collected them and we are publishing
them in an anthology.
The lectures are on subjects as “Haiku in Danish”, “Haiku in English”, “Haiku for children” and“Haiku and the Internet”. We also make ginkos and once Dick Pettit made a renga with us. This year we had a lecture on “Butoh-dance and haiku “ and we visited a Japanese garden.
Last year we made a little booklet with haiku in English titled “Sprouting Seeds” where many of the members
of The Haiku-Network are represented. All this has only been possible because Sys Matthiesen has help me with the activities. She is our exellent secretary in the Haiku-Network.
Sys Matthiesen and I have written a book together about how to write haiku. It is sold in more than 700 copies.
Sys Matthiesen, Kate Larsen and I have made a little booklet with rose-haiku. We will read three haiku each in
Danish and English.
The Danish language is very similar to German, so we have problems writing haiku similar to those of the Germans.
For example: In Danish you write from left to right in horisontal lines not vertical as in Japanese and the Danish syllable is very different from the Japanese onji.