Waka

Waka are the traditional short poems and songs in Rokugan. They are written in short lines with thirty-one syllables following a 5-7-5-7-7 syllabic pattern. The more modern form of poetry called renga is based on the same syllabic pattern as waka. Every year a poetry competition is helf by the Emperor, and sponsored by the Crane Clan. Thousands of people enter their waka on a topic chosen by the Emperor himself. (Crane p. 67)