An unpublished haiku has triggered an outpouring of words in its defense.

Its subject — a group of women protesting against efforts to reinterpret war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution — proved too touchy for a community center in Saitama to publish in its newsletter. And the center has received over 180 calls, emails and faxes complaining about its decision.

The poem was submitted in late June by a haiku club at the Mihashi community center, for publication in the July issue of the center's monthly four-page newsletter.