Japan Center Essay Competition Sponsored by Canon U.S.A.
The aim of the JCSB essay competition is to provide young Americans with an opportunity to think creatively and critically about their lives by relating them to some aspect of Japan to help them broaden their horizons and develop global citizenship.
Contestants should write, in English, one or more aspects of Japan including art, culture, tradition, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business, and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences, and/or future goals. (Contestants do not need to have any experience in visiting Japan or studying Japanese.
20th Essay Competition
Deadline has passed.
Winners
High School Division Best Essay Award
1st Place Best Essay Award and Consul General of Japan Special Award
“Daijoubu: Powerful Call for Unity” by Kazushi Kousaka (Choate Rosemary Hall)
2nd Place Best Essay Award
“Between Water and Stone: A Journey of Ritual and Reflection” by Amin Nasari (Hicksville High School)
3rd Place Best Essay Award
“Echoes from Hibakusha” by Erika Kawakami (Jericho High School)
College Division Best Essay Award
“Amaterasu’s Mirror of Ecstasy: A Brief Encounter with Japanese Shamanism and Shintoism” by Naomi Kirkup (Stony Brook University)
Uchida Memorial Award
“Embracing Half-Moon Cookies” by Skyler Ogonowski (Rocky Point High School)
Special Award (Alphabetically ordered by family name)
“The Show That Turned My Dreams into Reality” by Afnan Joarder (The Bronx High School of Science)
“Between The Folds: The Life Lessons Found in Origami” by Wynn Ng (Stony Brook University)
“Shinobu: A Story of Perseverance” by Siena Ruske (Bronx High School of Science)
Finalists (Alphabetically ordered by family name)
Afnan Joarder (The Bronx High School of Science)
Erika Kawakami (Jericho High School)
Naomi Kirkup (Stony Brook University)
Kazushi Kousaka (Choate Rosemary Hall)
Teresa Li (Stony Brook University)
Amin Nasari (Hicksville High School)
Wynn Ng (Stony Brook University)
Skyler Ogonowski (Rocky Point High School)
Siena Ruske (Bronx High School of Science)
Gabe Sidel (The Bronx High School of Science)
Christine Woods (The Bronx High School of Science)
Semi-finalists (Alphabetically ordered by family name)
Geneva Bhagroo (Stony Brook University)
Leah Chong (Stony Brook University)
Kira Cruz (Liberty University Online Academy)
Rebecca Gabrielsen (Stony Brook University)
Afnan Joarder (The Bronx High School of Science)
Naomi Kirkup (Stony Brook University)
Chiho Kakita (Stony Brook University)
Erika Kawakami (Jericho High School)
Kazushi Kousaka (Choate Rosemary Hall)
Kaci Leonard (Stony Brook University)
Teresa Li (Stony Brook University)
Madison Lin (Syosset High School)
Sanjukta Mahata (Stony Brook University)
Arya Modi (High School West)
Shaila Moulee (Stony Brook University)
Kina Nagasaki (The Bronx High School of Science)
Ryan Nakatani (Brooklyn Technical High School)
Amin Nasari (Hicksville High School)
Wynn Ng (Stony Brook University)
Skyler Ogonowski (Rocky Point High School)
Mauli Patel (Stony Brook University)
Samaira Pawa (Stony Brook University)
Azn Pineda (Elwood John Glenn High School)
Shanell Rollon (Stony Brook University)
Siena Ruske (Bronx High School of Science)
Emi Shimada (Stuyvesant High School)
Gabe Sidel (The Bronx High School of Science)
Donna Snyder (Hofstra University)
Sofia Tibaldi (Mepham High School)
Kaitlyn Toy (The Bronx High School of Science)
Carrie Wang (Stony Brook University)
Christine Woods (The Bronx High School of Science)
Zonglin Wu (Stony Brook University)
Fiona Zhuo (Stony Brook University)
Sponsor: Canon U.S.A.
Supporter : Consulate General of Japan in New York
Honorary Judges:
Mikio Mori, Ambassador and Consulate General of Japan in New York
Isao Kobayashi, President and CEO, Canon U.S.A.
JCSB Board Member in Charge: Yoko Ojima
Canon U.S.A. Representatives in Charge: Keiko Shinki
Organizing Chair: Eriko Sato
Chief Judge: Sachiko Murata
Committee members: Carolyn Brooks, Evelyn Cruise, Kristina Chambers, Mary Diaz, Marlene Dubois, Yasuko Fujita, MaryAnn Hannon, Raphael Hao, Feng-Qian Li, Jane McNulty, Patricia Marinaccio, Hiroko Matsuzaki, Ayaka Mayo, Eva Nagase, Chikako Nakamura, Atsuko Oyama, Mitsuko Post, Gerry Senese, Theresa Spadola, Yvette Vetro, and Gerard Senese
"Heart of Japan” was published in 2016. It is a collection of 70 essays selected from 1,992 essays submitted through 169 local colleges
and high schools during the first ten annual essay competitions. This essay competition
was launched in 2005 with generous donation from Canon USA. The aim of this program
is to encourage young Americans to think outside the box and find a connection to
Japan, a culturally very distinct country. They often reflect on their personal experiences
and their future goals and come up with unique and original thoughts, some of which
make us in tears and fill us with positive spirit. The essays are screened by the
Japan Center’s committee members and a panel of judges that consist of Stony Brook
University’s faculty members. The winners are formally recognized at the award ceremony
that takes place at the Wang Center in each spring and the top winners have been invited
to the Japanese Ambassador’s residence for a formal luncheon with the ambassador,
which has been creating once-in-lifetime memories for young writers.
Book cover photo © Yvette Vetro
Past Competitions:
19th competition;18 th competition; 17th competition; 16th competition; 15th competition; 14th Competition; 13th Competition;12th Competition; 11th Competition; First ten competitions