A chance to be published in Bungeishunju! Bungeishunju x note are hosting a submission contest: #WhatICanDoForTheFuture!
[Updated December 10]
The 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 under the theme of “#WhatICanDoForTheFuture” as the “Bungeishunju SDGs Essay Grand Prize 2025.” This contest, which began in 2022 to mark the 100th anniversary of Bungeishunju, is now in its fourth year.
Last year, we received 20,000 submissions, and it was a great success. In 2025, we are shifting our perspective from previous years and are looking for essays that delve deeper into the question, “What kind of future can my thoughts and actions bring to society and the world as a whole?”For example, starting from something you feel concerned about or cannot overlook in your daily life—such as children unable to receive an education, widening economic inequality, unconscious gender bias, or unstable working conditions—please write about “what you are working on in your daily life” and “what kind of society or world you want to create through the things you want to work on.”
Beyond the small sense of discomfort you feel in your daily life, there may be hints for creating a better society or world. We look forward to receiving new insights and visions from as many people as possible.
The winning entries will be published in full in the January 2026 issue of Bungeishunju (on sale December 10). (*Within 1000 characters; please see the application guidelines for details.)
Reference Works
To kick off the contest, our judge, Sayaka Kobayashi, has created a reference work. Please take a look and use it as a reference for your own submission.
■ 2024 Grand Prize
■ 2023 Grand Prize
■ 2022 Grand Prize
Contest Overview
■ Theme & Format
We are waiting for your note submissions on the theme of “#WhatICanDoForTheFuture”.
■ How to Apply
1. Register (log in) with a note account
2. Post an article within 1000 characters with the hashtag “#WhatICanDoForTheFuture”
・Please set your submission to “Public” when applying.
* Participation is complete if the banner image is displayed at the bottom of the article.
・You may submit multiple works.
・Please check the notes listed at the bottom before applying.
Regarding the Use of Submissions
Submissions may be introduced on Bungeishunju's official social media accounts.
They will also be introduced on note's social media accounts.
Schedule
Submission Period: July 25, 2025 (Fri) 11:00 AM to September 20, 2025 (Sat) 11:59 PM
Results Announcement: Scheduled for December 10, 2025
Prizes
・Grand Prize: 1 winner (150,000 yen gift card)
・Excellence Award: 5 winners (50,000 yen gift card each)
Winning works will be published in full in the magazine Bungeishunju January 2026 issue.
* After the judging is complete, the note management office will contact the winners.
Judge Introduction
Born in Nagoya in 1988. After meeting cram school instructor Nobutaka Tsubota, she went from being at the bottom of her class to passing the entrance exam for Keio University on her first attempt. She is widely known as the "real-life Biri Gal" from the book based on her true story, "How a Bottom-of-the-Class Gal Raised Her Deviation Score by 40 in One Year and Passed the Keio University Entrance Exam" (written by Nobutaka Tsubota, KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works / 2013). In 2024, she earned a Master's degree in Cognitive Science from Columbia University Graduate School. Upon returning to Japan, she established AGAL Inc. to spread learning mechanisms that foster self-efficacy. The service is scheduled to launch in November 2025. Her books include "The Day the Biri Gal Became a Biri Again" (Kodansha) and "How I Got Hooked on Studying" (Sanctuary Publishing).
・Mitsuyo Kakuta
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduated from the School of Humanities and Culture at Waseda University. She won the Kaien Newcomer Literature Prize for "Happy Games" in 1990, the Noma Literary Newcomer Prize for "UFOs on a Drowsy Night" in 1996, the Fujin Koron Literary Prize for "Air Garden" in 2003, the Naoki Prize for "Woman on the Other Shore" in 2005, the Kawabata Yasunari Literature Prize for "Rock Mother" in 2006, the Chuo Koron Literary Prize for "The Eighth Day" in 2007, the Ito Sei Literary Prize for "Tree House" in 2011, the Shibata Renzaburo Award for "Paper Moon" in 2012, the Izumi Kyoka Prize for Literature for "Children of the Beyond," and the Kawai Hayao Story Prize for "Her Inside Me" in 2014. In 2021, she received the Yomiuri Literary Prize for her translation of "The Tale of Genji (Volumes 1, 2, and 3)," a project that took five years to complete.
・Manabu Shintani
Former Editor-in-Chief of "Bungeishunju." Born in Tokyo in 1964. After graduating from the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University, 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 Department of the Non-Fiction Bureau in 2011, and Editor-in-Chief of "Shukan Bunshun" in April 2012. From 2018, he engaged in building new business models as the Editorial Bureau Chief of Shukan Bunshun. He became an Executive Officer in August 2020. In July 2021, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of "Bungeishunju" (concurrently serving as Executive Officer). Since June 2023, he has served as Director and General Manager of Bungeishunju.
A message from Bungeishunju
This essay grand prize, which started on the occasion of Bungeishunju's 100th anniversary, marks its 4th year. We have been able to continue this far thanks to the creators who have submitted their work and the companies that have supported this project. We would like to express our gratitude once again.
In these times when the speed of change in politics, economy, society, and culture is accelerating day by day, it is a struggle just to keep up with the flow. However, we believe that it is necessary to take time not just to be swept away by those currents, but to pause and think about what we as individuals can do for the world right now. Sometimes, one person's power may seem small against the vast world. However, we believe that it is the thoughts of each and every one of those individuals that create the world.
We receive many lessons and discoveries from all of you every year through this essay grand prize. This year, too, we look forward to works that will serve as new bridges between you and the world.
<Sponsors of the "Bungeishunju SDGs Essay Grand Prize">
GMO Internet Group
Sumitomo Realty & Development
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
Nippon Life Insurance
Nomura Holdings
Mizuho Financial Group
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
We look forward to receiving your submissions!
<Notes on Submission>
■ 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 to 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 recruitment theme or from paid articles.
■ About Judging and Winning Works
・Please note that there is a possibility that we may perform proofreading, such as adjusting 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 criteria.
・If a winning work or the creator themselves 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 email to the winners.
・For the final selection, the management office will verify your identity. Please note that if verification cannot be completed by the deadline, you will be excluded from the final selection.
・The awarding of prizes will be completed by sending an Amazon Gift Card to the winner's email address.
・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 site. For details, please refer to the Amazon Gift Card Terms and Conditions.
[Updated September 17, 2025 (Wed)]
The comment section of this article was temporarily open, but it is now closed due to our operational policy. We have read the comments provided and will use them as a reference for future operations. Please send any opinions or inquiries to the Request Submission Form.
