Shinzo Koizumi Prize National High School Student Essay Contest

2023/12/28

Image: Presentation of the Shinzo Koizumi Prize National High School Student Essay Contest certificate during the Yukichi Fukuzawa Birthday Celebration (January 10, 2023)

The Shinzo Koizumi Prize National High School Student Essay Contest is a prize essay system for high school students nationwide that began in 1976 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Dr. Shinzo Koizumi, a former President who was an outstanding researcher, educator, and excellent writer. The purpose of the contest is to pass on his character and achievements to future generations and contribute to the improvement of young people's writing skills. This project is funded by the Shinzo Koizumi Memorial Keio University Academic Development Fund, which was established in April 1967. In light of Dr. Shinzo Koizumi's wish for the flourishing of scholarship, this fund aims to provide educational support, including encouraging students' studies and sports, as well as international exchange. The contest was established as part of these efforts.

Keio University's prize essay system is said to have begun in 1953 at the suggestion of Yasuzaemon Matsunaga, who studied at Keio University and made significant contributions to the development of Japan's electric power industry. From the beginning, it aimed to support Keio students' studies and revitalize academicism. In addition to this high school student essay contest, prize essays and creative works were solicited during the 125th anniversary of the university's founding in 1983, receiving a total of 216 applications. These prize essay systems have since undergone further development to reach the present day.

Applications for this contest open every year on May 11, the anniversary of Dr. Shinzo Koizumi's death. Each year, applicants choose one from several themes reflecting current trends, but a characteristic feature is that there is always one theme concerning Yukichi Fukuzawa from various perspectives. The required length for the essay is between 6,000 and 8,000 characters. Due to this substantial length, it is intended for high school students to write during their summer vacation when they have no regular classes. The application deadline is in late August, and after selection, the winners of the Shinzo Koizumi Prize (one person), the runner-up (one person), and honorable mentions (three people) are announced on December 1 in this magazine and on the Keio University website.

Furthermore, the winning works are published in the January issue of this magazine the following year, along with strict yet warm reviews by the judges. Additionally, every year during the New Year's Yukichi Fukuzawa Birthday Celebration, an awards ceremony is held for the Shinzo Koizumi Prize and other winners.

Initially, applications for the contest were submitted as handwritten manuscripts on manuscript paper, but in recent years, essay data is registered via the website, showing that the trend of digitalization has reached the essay contest as well.

Although people no longer rewrite by hand multiple times, the basic task of writing remains the same. The time spent spinning thoughts into words, hesitating, and repeatedly refining them is irreplaceable, and many winners say that receiving the award gave them great confidence. The contest's purpose of contributing to the improvement of young people's writing skills continues to be passed down to the present day.

(Office of Communications and Public Relations)