Japan Center Essay Competition Sponsored by Canon U.S.A.
The 21st Competition Results
Winners
1st Place Best Essay Award in the High School Division
“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)
Semi-finalists
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)
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.
21st Competition (2025-2026)
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: Yasuko Fujita
Coordinator & Principal Judge: Eriko Sato
Chief Judge: Sachiko Murata
Committee members: Carolyn Brooks, Collin Carter, Evelyn Cruise, Kristina Chambers, Mary Diaz, Marlene Dubois, Yasuko Fujita, MaryAnn Hannon, Raphael Hao, Feng-Qian Li, Patricia Marinaccio, Hiroko Matsuzaki, Ayaka Mayo, Eva Nagase, Chikako Nakamura, Atsuko Oyama, Mitsuko Post, Gerry Senese, 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:
20th competition;19th competition;18 th competition; 17th competition; 16th competition; 15th competition; 14th Competition; 13th Competition;12th Competition; 11th Competition; First ten competitions