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.
22nd JCSB Essay Competition (2026-2027)
Deadline: January 8, 2027
Rules and Procedure | Evaluation Rubric | FAQs
Submission
Submit your essay by the deadline specified above through here .
As soon as you submit your essay, you’ll receive an automatic confirmation;
if not, email us at 
Winners
1st Place Best Essay Award in the High School Division and Consul General of Japan in New York Special Award
“Keeping the Shape: What Mujo Taught Me About Impermanence” by Chelsy Arrata (Locust Valley High School)
2nd Place Best Essay Award in the High School Division
“Tadaima: A Small Space with a Deep Return” by Venus Huang (Staten Island Technical High School)
3rd Place Best Essay Award in the High School Division
“Asadora: Exploring the Intergenerational Source of Inspiration for Japanese Women” by May Hachiya (Hunter College High School)
1st Place Best Essay Award in the College Division
“One Roll, One Soul” by Teresa Li (Stony Brook University)
Uchida Memorial Award
“The Concept of Ma and Learning to Embrace the Spaces In Between” by Anabela Garcia (Stony Brook University)
Special Award
(*Alphabetically ordered by the author’s family name)
“Kokoro wo Komete” by Barry Jiang (Staten Island Technical High School)
“Gaman: As Hands Tremble, the Heart Endures” by Chloe Wang (Stuyvesant High School)
“In the Name of the Moon: A Magical Girl’s Journey” by Chloe Wong (College of Staten Island High School for International Studies)
Finalists
Ruby Freda (United Nations International School)
Ari Kashanian (Stony Brook University)
Semifinalists
Naaz Asif (Stony Brook University)
Asmaa Khan (Stony Brook University)
Jack Kollmer (Chaminade High School)
George Kurakin (Stony Brook University)
Madison Lin (Syosset Senior High School)
Gianna Maniscalco (Stony Brook University)
Christopher McGratty (Wellington C Mepham High School)
Shaila Moulee (Stony Brook University)
Eshal Muzaffar (Staten Island Technical Highschool)
Sia Puri (Half Hollow Hills High School West)
Emma Reznik (Saint Anns School)
Hannah Thomas (Stony Brook University)
Kamran Towhid (Stony Brook University)
JCSB Board Member in Charge
Yoko Ojima
Canon U.S.A. Representative in Charge
Keiko Shinki
Organizing Committee
Yasuko Fujita (Chair), Roxanne Brockner, Carolyn Brooks, Collin Carter, Evelyn Cruise, Kristina Chambers,
Mary Diaz, Marlene Dubois, MaryAnn Hannon, Raphael Hao, Naomi, Kirkup, Feng-Qian Li,
Jane McNulty, Patricia Marinaccio, Hiroko Matsuzaki, Ayaka Mayo, Eva Nagase, Chikako,
Nakamura, Atsuko Oyama, Mitsuko Post, Gerard Senese, Yvette Vetro
The first volume of "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.
