On Sunday Dec 22 twenty two members tuned in for WiK’s first ever Zoom social event. The bonenkai 2021 saw out in style what has been a difficult year in many ways.
Our annual bonenkai bash is not only a way of dispelling the demons of midwinter but of showcasing WiK’s multifarious talents. This year there was a difference in that we were celebrating at home in front of a screen. Of course we missed the human interaction, but it enabled us to bring our farflung membership together for a gathering without the danger or difficulty of having to travel home afterwards. It was great to have so many share in the spirit of solstice celebration by making merry with fellow Kyocentrics around the world.
Performances were up to five mins in length and featured the following talents…
Mark Richardson read a poem by Thomas Hardy plus one of his own (a fable)
Jann Williams is a David Bowie fan who danced, appropriately, to Let”s Dance
Ed Levinson read his own uplifting haiku and short poems, inspired by nature
Eric Bray danced with a female partner to his own musical composition
Video by Rebecca Otowa and Karen Lee Tawarayama singing in perfect harmony
James Woodham read his own poetry inspired by life near Lake Biwa
Video by Robert Yellin in a powerful one-take reading with Bizen pot appreciation
Lisa Wilcut read a charming conversation she wrote from the viewpoint of a child
Lianne Wakabayashi talked of her relationship with Kyoto artist, Teruhide Kato
Jorrell Watkins read his own poetry in a fast paced verbal feast
Mayumi Kawaharada read her haiku, as performed recently with a jazz group
Ted Taylor read out his limericks, including a special one for WiK (see below)
Ken Rodgers read a selection of his recent poetry (see here for the contents)
Mark Hovane spoke of the poet Ryokan and of Kyoto’s last changing maple leaf
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Limerick for WiK – a limerwik by Ted Taylor
Some Writers in Kyoto there were
And others a fair bit further.
At their desks hours spent
Yet can’t cover the rent
But at least we have these events.