Shinzo Koizumi Award All-Japan High School Essay Contest
2025/04/04
Shinzo Koizumi served as President of Keio University during the difficult period from before to the end of World War II. For current Keio students and Keio University alumni, his name is likely widely familiar due to his contributions to the promotion of sports at Keio University, including his famous quote, "Practice makes the impossible possible." At the same time, Koizumi was also a master of fine prose who, as an economist who believed in liberalism, left behind many writings. The Shinzo Koizumi Award All-Japan High School Essay Contest, which began ten years after his death, celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary this year.
A lecture at the Faculty of Economics (Courtesy of the Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies)
Who was Shinzo Koizumi?
Shinzo Koizumi was born on May 4, 1888 (Meiji 21), as the third child of Nobukichi Koizumi, a former samurai of the Kishu Domain who was deeply trusted by Yukichi Fukuzawa and had served as President of Keio University. His father, Nobukichi, who later became the manager of the Yokohama Specie Bank, died suddenly at a young age when Shinzo was six. Taken in at the Fukuzawa residence, Shinzo studied at Keio University from the Keio Futsubu School. While a student, he was an active player on the Athletic Association's tennis team and continued to serve as the head of the tennis club even after becoming a university faculty member teaching economics. After serving as the director of the library, he took on the heavy responsibility of President from 1933 (Showa 8), as the mood of war intensified, during one of the most difficult periods in the history of Keio University.
After the war, in 1949 (Showa 24), Shinzo was appointed General Advisor for the Education of Crown Prince Akihito (now His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus). He lectured on the principles of imperial leadership in an age of democracy. He also continued to write prolifically after the war, and his various works on Yukichi Fukuzawa and books such as "Common Sense Criticism of Communism" became widely read by the general public. He passed away on May 11, 1966 (Showa 41). His vast achievements as an economist and writer are compiled in "The Complete Works of Shinzo Koizumi" (Bungeishunju).
Started on the 10th Anniversary of His DeathThe All-Japan High School Essay Contest
Koizumi left behind numerous works, including bestsellers, not only as an economist but also as an outstanding educator and writer. Today, many of his works for the general public can be read, including e-books, such as "Waga Bungeidan" (My Literary Talks), "Heizei no Kokorogake" (Everyday Mindset), and "Kaigun Shukei Taii Koizumi Nobukichi" (Navy Paymaster Lieutenant Nobukichi Koizumi), a record of his grief for his eldest son who died in the war. In these works, one can feel the true "power of writing" that moves hearts and inspires courage, as Koizumi's clear logic and fair thinking are expressed with outstanding persuasiveness and expressive power.
In 1976 (Showa 51), ten years after Koizumi's death, the "Shinzo Koizumi Award All-Japan High School Essay Contest" was launched with the aim of helping to improve the writing and expressive abilities of young people. The first judges included the Akutagawa Prize-winning author and Keio University alumnus Shusaku Endo. Since then, other renowned literary figures who were also Keio University alumni, such as Shotaro Yasuoka, Hideo Takubo, and Hiroshi Sakagami, have conducted rigorous judging after carefully reading the high school students' works.
Applications for this contest open every year on May 11, the anniversary of Koizumi's death. Initially, applications were accepted on a school-by-school basis and had to be handwritten, but in recent years, individuals can apply using a designated form.
The essay topics vary from year to year, with generally three to six themes being offered. In addition to topics related to Yukichi Fukuzawa, the contest has actively incorporated social issues that we want the high school generation to think about, such as energy problems, pandemics, and SNS culture in recent years.
The quality of the submitted works has been extremely high from the beginning to the present day, and the judges have a very difficult time selecting the five winning entries. The award ceremony for the winners is held every year on January 10, during the celebration of Yukichi Fukuzawa's birthday.
The admissions policies of each faculty seek comprehension, analytical skills, conceptual ability, and expressive power. Working on an essay involves reading and interpreting multiple documents and materials to solve problems empirically, which may be linked to Keio University's traditional "spirit of jitsugaku." The fact that many of the winners go on to study at Keio University may suggest that applying for the contest helps develop their essay-writing skills.
A Challenge for High School Students for the Milestone 50th Contest
The winning works and judges' comments from the 49th contest will be published on the Keio University website and in the January issue of "Mita-hyoron (official monthly journal published by Keio University Press)" during January, so we encourage you to read them. If you know any high school students, please encourage them to write. Why not start by reading Koizumi's book "Dokushoron" (On Reading)? It will provide clues on what to read and how to read it.
Finally, to mark the New Year, we present the "President's Instructions," which Koizumi posted in classrooms within Keio University under the title "Precepts for Keio Students to Always Uphold." We wish all our readers health and happiness.
Shinzo Koizumi Award All-Japan High School Essay Contest
This contest was started in 1976 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of former President Dr. Shinzo Koizumi. It aims to pass on the personality and achievements of this outstanding researcher, educator, and excellent writer to future generations, and to contribute to the improvement of young people's writing and expressive abilities. Eligible applicants are students currently enrolled in high schools throughout Japan (as of the deadline date).
Testimonials from Winners
□ I learned about the contest through an introduction at my school and decided to apply.
□ After reading past winning entries, I wanted to try writing a substantial piece that could be considered a "work of art" itself.
□ I loved weaving words together.
□ I wanted to take on a big challenge during my summer vacation.
□ I realized that writing an essay requires not only writing skills but also various other abilities, such as the ability to connect ideas, reading comprehension, and the skill to identify keywords.
This article was published in the "Stained Glass" section of "Juku" WINTER 2025 (No. 325).