We're back from vacation and ready to kick off Season 3 of Word.

KJZZ's second annual Haiku Writing Contest launches this month as we celebrate NaHaiWriMo (National Haiku Writing Month). It's the brainchild of Sammamish, Washington writer Michael Dylan Welch.

We're teaming up with The Show again for the contest and offering some spirited discussions about haiku on episodes of Word this month.

We lead off this episode with the Honorary Consul of Japan, Kelly Moeur. He is one of the organizers of the Arizona Matsuri, celebrating its 36th anniversary in Phoenix. The festival offers a wide range of free activities focusing on Japanese culture, food, drink, entertainment and the arts. Consul Moeur joins us to talk about his love of Japan and haiku.

As part of our mission to represent the literary arts in the state and the region, we also caught up with haiku enthusiast Miriam Sagan who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is an avid writer and has a blog entitled, "Miriam's Well." There is an extensive section showcasing haiku. Sagan has also participated in projects that put haiku into the natural world. 

Finally, we champion the small press scene by welcoming publisher Aaron Johnson to "Word." He runs Lawn Gnome Publishing based in Phoenix and focuses on poetry and graphical literature. He also hosts open mic events including a series of intense contests know as Haiku Death Matches. Johnson talks about his love of haiku and even shares one of his own with us.

If you have a suggestion for a future show or a comment please send an email to [email protected].

Thanks for supporting public radio as well as the literary arts in the state and the region!