It may seem out of the question that an art-form so off the beaten track as haibun might actually have some play in the media mainstream—and in English that's probably a correct assertion. But curiously enough, in Slovenia the largest daily newspaper out of Ljubljana is taking a chance on it, and that chance seems to be paying off. Well-known poet and filmmaker Dimitar Anakiev is publishing occasional pieces, not in the Travel or Life sections, but on the Op-Ed pages—in other words, current affairs, matters that everyone should take note of immediately. And these pieces are being read by tens of thousands of people, with a very active response rate. Dimitar has published a score or so of these pieces, and we offer a few of them to you (translated by the author, with editorial advice from Noragh Jones and Jim Kacian) over the next few issues. We are not necessarily advocating that you turn your attention to writing haibun as polemic or advocacy, but thought this might broaden the dialogue on what is—and is not—haibun. Happy reading!

Dimitar Anakiev, Faleminderit (thanks to) a Boxer Champion