A Haiku Monument Honoring Herman Van Rompuy, the First President of the European Council, Unveiled at Choshuji Temple in Katsuura, Chiba

Updated on July 24, 2026

On July 9, 2026, a haiku monument honoring Herman Van Rompuy, the first President of the European Council and an internationally acclaimed haiku poet, was unveiled within the grounds of Choshuji Temple in Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

While widely recognized for his contributions to European integration as a statesman, Mr. Van Rompuy has also devoted many years to composing haiku and sharing its beauty with audiences around the world. Through his literary activities, he has made a significant contribution to cultural exchange between Japan and Europe, earning widespread respect both in Japan and abroad.

The monument was realized through the initiative of Nobue Okanishi, President of Wakanakai, a haiku group based in Onjuku Town, Chiba. Ms. Okanishi first met Mr. Van Rompuy at a haiku symposium held in Belgium in 2014, and the two have maintained a close friendship ever since. Wishing to preserve this meaningful connection and to create a lasting symbol of international friendship through haiku, she personally financed the construction of the monument.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by haiku enthusiasts, local residents, and distinguished guests, who gathered to celebrate the completion of the monument and to express their shared hope for the continued development of international exchange through haiku.

This monument stands as a testament to how the passion and dedication of a single haiku poet can bring people together across borders and cultures. Haiku International Association hopes that this meaningful achievement will inspire even greater international friendship and cultural exchange through haiku in the years to come.