Competition · Online
Keio University's national academic essay (shoronbun) contest for high school students, held since 1976 in memory of former president Koizumi Shinzo, with cash prizes up to 150,000 JPY. The 52nd (2027) guidelines are not yet published.
Choose one topic (2026: 'Light and shadow of AI', 'Fukuzawa Yukichi's jitsugaku today', 'Globalisation and Japanese institutions', 'Effort', 'Empathy and sympathy', or a free topic) and write a reasoned essay of 6,000-8,000 characters in Japanese. AI may be used for brainstorming but not to write the text. Prizes: Koizumi Shinzo Award (150,000 JPY), runner-up (80,000 JPY) and 3 honourable mentions (30,000 JPY), with certificates and gifts; finalists receive a gift.