A chance to be published in Bungeishunju! Bungeishunju x note are holding a submission contest: #WhatICanDoForTheFuture!
[Updated December 8]
The judging results have been announced! Please check them out via the article link below.
This year, Bungeishunju and note are once again holding a submission contest titled the "Bungeishunju SDGs Essay Grand Prix 2023" with the theme of "What I Can Do for the Future". The
SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) were adopted at the UN Summit in 2015. These "17 international goals to aim for a sustainable and better world by 2030" have been set to make the world a better place. What should we do for a sustainable society? In the
first contest held last year
, we received approximately 7,900 submissions.
This year, we are looking for essays about what you want to do or are actually doing for a better future.
It doesn't have to be a major initiative; small things in your daily life, or even just your thoughts and goals, are welcome. Please feel free to post your thoughts on "what I am doing now for the future."
Winning entries will be published in full in the January 2024 issue of "Bungeishunju" (on sale December 8) and other media. (Please see the submission guidelines for the recommended word count.)
Click here for last year's Grand Prix winner.
Reference works
For this contest, we asked former track and field athlete Dai Tamesue to create a reference work. We will be releasing articles sequentially. Please take a look and use them as a reference for your own submission.
Contest Details
■ Contest Schedule
Submission period: Until 23:59 on Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Announcement: Friday, December 8, 2023
■ Submissions
We are waiting for your note posts on the theme of "What I Can Do for the Future."
■ How to Apply
1. Register (log in) with a note account
2. Set the hashtag "#WhatICanDoForTheFuture" and post an article of 1,000 characters or less
・Please set your submission to "public" (free).
※ If the banner image is displayed at the bottom of the article, your entry is complete.
・You may submit multiple entries.
・Please read the notes at the bottom before submitting.
Regarding the use of submitted content
Submitted content may be introduced on Bungeishunju's official social media accounts.
Prizes
・Grand Prix: 1 person (150,000 yen in gift cards)
・Excellence Award: 5 people (50,000 yen in gift cards each)
Winning entries will be published in full in the magazine "Bungeishunju" January 2024 issue, Bunshun Online, and Bungeishunju Digital Edition.
※ The note management office will contact the winners after the judging is complete.
Meet the Judges
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1978. The first Japanese person to win a medal at a world-level sprint event. Current Japanese record holder for the men's 400-meter hurdles (as of July 2023).
Currently engaged in writing and projects related to the human body. Major works include "Winning Alone," "The Philosophy of Running," and "The Power of Giving Up."
This year, at the age of 45, he published "Jukutatsuron" (Theory of Mastery), which summarizes his learnings as an athlete.
・Mitsuyo Kakuta
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduated from the School of Humanities and Culture at Waseda University. Won the Kaien Newcomer Literature Prize for "Kofuku na Yugi" in 1990, the Noma Literary Newcomer Prize for "Madoromu Yoru no UFO" in 1996, the Fujin Koron Literary Prize for "Kuchu Teien" in 2003, the Naoki Prize for "Taigan no Kanojo" in 2005, the Kawabata Yasunari Literature Prize for "Rock Haha" in 2006, the Chuo Koron Literary Prize for "Yodome no Semi" in 2007, the Ito Sei Literary Prize for "Tree House" in 2011, the Shibata Renzaburo Prize for "Kami no Tsuki" and the Izumi Kyoka Prize for Literature for "Kanata no Ko" in 2012, and the Kawai Hayao Story Prize for "Watashi no Naka no Kanojo" in 2014. In 2021, she received the Yomiuri Literary Prize for her translation of "The Tale of Genji (Volumes 1-3)," a project that took five years to complete.
・Gaku Shinya
Former Editor-in-Chief of "Bungeishunju." Born in Tokyo in 1964. After graduating from the Department of Political Science at Waseda University's School of Political Science and Economics, he joined Bungeishunju in 1989. After working in the editorial departments of "Sports Graphic Number," "Shukan Bunshun," and the monthly "Bungeishunju," he became the Director of the First Non-Fiction Department in 2011 and Editor-in-Chief of "Shukan Bunshun" in April 2012. From 2018, he worked on building new business models as the Director of the Shukan Bunshun Editorial Bureau. He became an Executive Officer in August 2020. In July 2021, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of "Bungeishunju" (concurrently serving as an Executive Officer). Since June 2023, he has served as a Director and General Manager of Bungeishunju.
Background of the Contest
Adults all say the same thing.
"SDGs are important," "Let's create a sustainable society."
The Earth we live on is round, vast, and beautiful.
But when you're running through every day, swaying on the train, and sweating to survive, you suddenly forget.
The compassion the Earth gives us, the kindness that wraps around us.
So today, let's stop and think.
For tomorrow, what can I do? What can I do because it's me?
A tiny step might lead to the "future" that adults talk about.
* * *
Your proposal for the future will be published in the magazine "Bungeishunju," which is celebrating its 100th anniversary!
From small realizations within a 100-meter radius to stories learned while traveling the world.
From wisdom received from family and friends to introductions to the latest unknown research.
Please tell us your thoughts on "#WhatICanDoForTheFuture."
<Sponsors of the 'Bungeishunju SDGs Essay Award'>
GMO Internet Group
Sumitomo Realty & Development
Nippon Life Insurance
East Japan Railway Company
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
Sumitomo Mitsui Marine and Fire Insurance
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
Marubeni
<Notes on Application>
■ About Submitted Works
・The copyright of submitted works belongs to the creator.
・Please ensure your submission complies with copyright law. For details, please check "Copyright concepts that support creation."
・Please refrain from submitting works that have won other contests held by note or other companies, or works similar to them.
・The note management team may remove hashtags from articles that are unrelated to the contest theme.
■ About Judging and Winning Works
・Please note that we may make corrections, such as line breaks, when publishing in "Bungeishunju."
・You can upload images when posting, but a maximum of one image will be published in "Bungeishunju." Note that images are not subject to judging.
・Works must be 1,000 characters or less to be eligible for judging.
・We cannot respond to inquiries regarding judging, such as judging criteria.
・If a winning work violates the Terms of Service, the award may be revoked even after judging.
・The announcement of winning works will be made via this article and by contacting the winners directly. If we do not receive a reply within 5 days of the contact date, we will issue an Amazon Gift Card to the email address registered on note, and that will be considered the completion of the prize delivery.
・The handling of personal information will follow our Privacy Policy.
・The Amazon Gift Card provided as a prize can be used for purchases on the Japanese Amazon page. For details, please refer to the Amazon Gift Card Terms and Conditions.
