Starting in May 2026, Haiku Commentary will host the George Klacsanzky Memorial Haiku Contest. The contest not only coincides with the 10th anniversary of Haiku Commentary but also is in honor of a pioneer of haiku in the Pacific Northwest. George Klacsanzky (1956–2003) was an early organizer of English-language haiku publishing and events in the Seattle area. In 1984, he started a haiku journal called Haiku Zasshi Zō (which may be translated as Haiku Magazine Image)—the second haiku journal in the Pacific Northwest. Besides editing this pivotal journal, he organized many haiku walks, conducted haiku meetings, shared haiku news, and sponsored haiku contests. His son, Nicholas Klacsanzky, is the founder of Haiku Commentary and a current editor of Frogpond journal.

Submission details for the contest will come in April 2026. It is planned to be a contest that pays the winners, and that is open to all poets from around the world. We look forward to running the contest and seeing your great haiku.

George Klacsanzky