Celebrating Safe Driving: Winners Announced for the 1st Park Day Senryu Contest

The Park 24 Group, headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, recently concluded its inaugural Park Day Senryu Contest, aiming to promote awareness about the issues related to road parking. The contest attracted an impressive 3,372 entries, narrowing down to 24 winning poems that captured various experiences and insights surrounding three key themes: "road parking," "parking lots," and "safe driving."

Established on August 9, 1998, Park Day was created with the intention of drawing attention to the societal problems caused by roadside parking, even if just for a single day. The Park 24 Group has since engaged in multiple initiatives promoting this awareness, and the Senryu Contest is one of them.

The organization stated its desire to encourage people to reflect on the various issues related to roadside parking. With that in mind, the contest aimed to collect relatable experiences and common scenarios surrounding parking and driving in the form of senryu poems. The submission period for the contest ran from April 22 to June 21, 2026, resulting in an array of humorous and thought-provoking pieces that resonated with participants.

A total of eight senryu from each of the three themes were selected as winners, making a total of 24 winning pieces. To ensure these creations reach a broader audience, the winning poems will be featured on banners displayed at 89 designated Times Parking locations across Japan from October to December 2026, showcasing the importance of safe parking practices to all.

In addition to the display of these poems, winners will receive unique prizes, including their own printed banner, a parking e-ticket valued at 3,000 yen, and original coffee drip bags made from coffee beans served at the Times Café located on the second floor of the Park 24 headquarters.

The Park 24 Group is committed to developing an environment where vehicles can be parked anytime, helping to foster a community free of roadside parking. The company plans to continue promoting its Park Day initiatives, which will further educate the public about safe parking practices. The Senryu Contest is just one of many activities aimed at reducing incidents of roadside parking.

Overview of Additional Initiatives for Park Day 2026

1. Educational Workshops: Events and workshops focusing on the dangers of roadside parking will be conducted for children at commercial facilities as well as at childcare centers in Shinagawa, where the company is located. This includes collaboration with the Park 24 Judo team to provide judo lessons alongside road safety education.
2. Puzzle Game Launch: A unique slide puzzle game is available online, where players navigate a car to clear a path for an ambulance. This activity educates users about the impact of roadside parking on emergency vehicle accessibility, blending learning with enjoyment.
- Link: Puzzle Game
3. Charitable Contributions: Additionally, on August 9, 2026, some of the sales proceeds from Times Parking, Times Car, and Times Car Rental will be donated to the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for supporting children affected by traffic accidents.

Through these comprehensive efforts, the Park 24 Group is driven to cultivate safer driving habits, highlight the importance of responsible parking, and assist communities in recognizing the critical nature of these social issues.