The "Shufu Senryu 2026" (Housewife Haiku 2026) contest, now in its fourth year, has received a record-breaking 6,700 submissions. The winning entries shine a light on the often-unacknowledged labor of household chores, as well as work-life and holiday struggles.
Grand Prize in 'Housewife's Daily Life' Category:
"A child who won't sleep, a sleeping husband, and a wife who wants to sleep" (Tokyo, 43 years old)
Other notable entries about 'nameless chores':
"After coming home, 'Get out the water bottle,' a total of 8 times" (40-year-old woman)
"Leaving only the core of the toilet paper roll behind, the family leaves" (39-year-old woman)
"Leaving a few millimeters of barley tea in the refrigerator" (57-year-old woman)
Anchor Maiko Hibi commented, "At my parents' house, I always leave the barley tea bottle behind, with a strange expectation that someone will refill it." Takayuki Hasumi added, "There's also the milk pattern."
'Working' Category Grand Prize:
"Wage increases are being overtaken by rising prices" (Fukuoka Prefecture, 35 years old)
Other entries:
"My hobby is 'work,' and now I'm praised by the Prime Minister" (69-year-old male)
"Putting overtime pay into NISA, then working overtime again" (28-year-old male)
Haiku for Golden Week:
"Holidays aren't days off, they're three-meal days" (48-year-old female)
"More than rice, housewives' fatigue is being stockpiled" (50-year-old male)
Anchor Yamauchi also shared impromptu haiku from passersby. A newlywed couple in their 30s offered: "We had our wedding before the long weekend, and now we're bankrupt." A couple in their 60s contributed: "Put away our valuables before our grandchildren arrive." Hasumi noted that this time of year, families often need to secure breakable items like May Festival dolls.