Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime (Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading)
In this ceremony, Japanese poems called "tanka" are read out.
An utakai (poetry reading) is where many people come together, create tanka poems on the same theme, and share them with each other. Utakai have been held since the Nara period, and there are records of them in the "Manyoshu." The utakai hosted by the Emperor is called "utagokai." The one held at the beginning of the year was called "Utagokai Hajime," but it is now called "Utakai Hajime."
At the Utakai Hajime, anyone can submit a tanka based on the chosen theme. If a person's tanka is selected, it is presented in front of the Emperor and Empress, and they may even have the opportunity to meet the Emperor and Empress in person. The Utakai Hajime has become a very important ceremony that connects the Imperial Family with the people.
Since the ceremony started accepting poems from the general public, many people have been sending in tanka every year from all over Japan and even from around the world.
