The Musashino University Department of Japanese Literature (Nishitokyo City, Tokyo) is seeking applications for its "34th Musashino Literary Prize 'High School Student Division'" in the categories of novels, haiku, tanka, poetry, and essays from July 1 to August 31, 2026, with the aim of promoting creative activities among high school students and university applicants, and discovering young talent.

Key Points of This Announcement:

* Supports the creative activities of high school students and applicants with a literary prize encompassing five divisions. * The judging panel includes Akutagawa Prize winners Makoto Mita and Kō Machida, as well as numerous award-winning tanka poets, haiku poets, poets, and faculty members from our university. * Applying for this prize grants eligibility to apply for the Type 1 Comprehensive Selection (Interview-Based) admission to our university's Faculty of Letters.

Details of This Announcement:

The "Musashino Literary Prize" was established in 1993 to foster interest in creative writing among all students, graduate students, and alumni of our university, and to encourage the creation of excellent works. This year marks its 34th iteration. The High School Student Division (including university applicants) was established in 2012 and will be held for the 15th time this year.

The judging panel includes Akutagawa Prize winners Makoto Mita (Honorary Professor, our university) and Kō Machida (Professor, our university), as well as Kenro Miyakawa (Honorary Professor, our university), specializing in children's literature; Hiromi Inoue (Visiting Professor, our university), Katsuhiro Horikiri (Professor, our university), haiku poets; Amari Hayashi (Lecturer, our university), Tatsuya Terai (Full-time Lecturer, our university), tanka poets; and Yuko Fumizuki (Visiting Professor, our university), a poet. Applying for this prize also grants eligibility to apply for the Type 1 Comprehensive Selection (Interview-Based) admission to our university.

34th Musashino Literary Prize 'High School Student Division' Application Guidelines:

Dates

July 1 (Wed) - August 31 (Mon), 2026

Eligibility

High school students and university applicants

* Those currently enrolled in high schools nationwide or equivalent institutions (including those who have passed the High School Equivalency Examination).

Divisions and

Application Rules

[Novel Division]

* Approximately 20 to 50 pages (20 characters x 400-1000 lines) using 400-character manuscript paper. * Genre and theme are not specified. * Include a synopsis of approximately 200 characters that clearly states the work's conclusion.

[Haiku Division]

1 Single Haiku Category: Up to 3 entries per person. 2 Series Category: A series of works composed of approximately 10-20 haiku.

[Toki Yoshimaro Tanka Prize]

1 Single Tanka Category: Up to 3 entries per person. 2 Series Category: A series of works composed of approximately 10-20 tanka.

[Poetry Division]

* Poetry works of approximately 20 to 60 lines. * Number of characters per line is not specified.

[Essay Division]

1 Musashino Category

* Essays on works that include the word "Musashino." * Approximately 10 to 25 pages (20 characters x 200-500 lines) using 400-character manuscript paper. 2 Free Category

* Essays on Japanese language, Japanese literature, or Japanese culture. * Select specific events, works, or individuals and describe them objectively and logically. * Approximately 10 to 25 pages (20 characters x 200-500 lines) using 400-character manuscript paper.

Application Method

Submit a Word file via the application form (online, available only during the application period).

* For details, please refer to the related links below.

Prizes and Awards:

[Novel Division / Essay Division]

* Grand Prize: 1 entry (Prize money: 50,000 yen) * Judge's Special Prize: 1 entry (Prize money: 30,000 yen) * Excellence Award: Up to 2 entries (Prize money: 10,000 yen each) * Honorable Mention: Approximately 2 entries (No prize money)

[Haiku Division / Toki Yoshimaro Tanka Prize]

1 Single Haiku Category / Single Tanka Category

* Grand Prize: 1 entry (Prize money: 10,000 yen) * Excellence Award: Up to 2 entries (Prize money: 3,000 yen book card each) * Honorable Mention: Approximately 5-10 entries (No prize money)

2 Series Category / Series Category

* Grand Prize: 1 entry (Prize money: 30,000 yen) * Excellence Award: Up to 2 entries (Prize money: 5,000 yen book card each) * Honorable Mention: Approximately 2 entries (No prize money)

[Poetry Division]

* Grand Prize: 1 entry (Prize money: 30,000 yen) * Excellence Award: Up to 2 entries (Prize money: 5,000 yen book card each) * Honorable Mention: Approximately 2 entries (No prize money)

Results Announcement

Mid-November 2026, announced on the university's website.

Award Ceremony

Scheduled for mid-December 2026 (held online).

Organizer

Musashino University Department of Japanese Literature

Judging Committee

Seiko Konishi (President, our university) Makoto Mita (Author, Honorary Professor, our university) Kenro Miyakawa (Author, Honorary Professor, our university) Kō Machida (Author, Professor, our university) Yi Yang (Author, Visiting Professor, our university) Shinobu Tsuchiya (Professor, our university) Hiromi Inoue (Haiku Poet, Visiting Professor, our university) Ichiro Miura (Professor, our university) Katsuhiro Horikiri (Haiku Poet, Professor, our university) Amari Hayashi (Tanka Poet, Lecturer, our university) Tatsuya Terai (Tanka Poet, Full-time Lecturer, our university) Yuka Kawa-ji (Tanka Poet, Visiting Researcher, Institute of Japanese Literature, our university) Mirako Yokoyama (Tanka Poet) Yuko Fumizuki (Poet, Visiting Professor, our university)

* Please be sure to check the related links at the end for details.

[Judging Committee]

About Musashino University:

Musashino University Ariake Campus

In 1924, Musashino Women's College was established with the ideal of character education based on Buddhist principles. Succeeding Musashino Women's College, the university changed its name to Musashino University in 2003. Since becoming co-educational in 2004, it has promoted university reforms and developed into a comprehensive university with over 14,000 students, including 13 faculties, 21 departments, 14 graduate schools, and a correspondence division. In 2019, it established the Faculty of Data Science, the first in a private university in Japan. In 2021, it established the Faculty of Entrepreneurship, the first in Japan, and launched the "Musashino INITIAL" general education curriculum, making "AI Utilization" and "SDGs" compulsory subjects. In 2023, it established the Faculty of Sustainability, the first in Japan. In 2024, celebrating its 100th anniversary, it established the Faculty of Wellbeing, the first in the world. In 2026, it will establish the Faculty of International Data Science through its correspondence division, proposing a new form of learning for distance education. The university is advancing reforms to foster creative human resources for the future of 2050.

Musashino University HP: https://www.musashino-u.ac.jp/

[Related Links]

34th Musashino Literary Prize 'High School Student Division' Application Website and Last Year's Award-Winning Works:

https://www.musashino-u.ac.jp/academics/faculty/literature/japanese_literature_and_culture/musashino_literary_prize_high_school_student.html

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