by Karen Lee Tawarayama, Competition Organiser

The judges of the Fifth Annual Kyoto Writing Competition are delighted to announce their decisions.

This year, despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, we received an impressive number of submissions from countries and regions throughout the world. Several included mentions of the unique situation, and we felt that this was a poignant representation of the times. We are thankful that the virtual nature of this competition provided a means for individuals of several nationalities to express their continued love for Kyoto and Japan, even if currently unable to visit in person. This is a strong indication of Kyoto’s strong international appeal, though it should be noted that the judges were unaware of the names or nationality of those involved. 

The winners of the Fifth Annual Kyoto Writing Competition are as follows. 

First Prize:
“December” by Lauren E. Walker 

The judges appreciated the feminine quality of this piece, which was evocative and skillfully recreated a moment in a person’s life. Residents of Kyoto who have had the pleasure of visiting the Ohara area would be able to imagine the story clearly, based on their personal experiences there and the vivid descriptions.

Second Prize:
“Sparrow Steps” by Amanda Huggins 

This was a lovely depiction of a flickering relationship whose end was nigh, although one of the couple did not realize it yet. The overall sadness of the piece tugged at the judges’ heartstrings. Though it might have taken place in any setting, it was the “skeleton of a dry cherry leaf” and autumn showing that “death could be beautiful” that belied a more than passing acquaintance with Japanese literature. The judges also felt that the contrast depicted between the evanescence of sparrows compared to their steps caught forever in cement had a particular “Kyoto flavor”.

Third Prize:
“Interlude: Kyoto” by Brenda Yates  

An evocative journey, including vignettes of Kyoto’s four seasons in keeping with Japanese literary and artistic traditions. Nature and human life are skillfully woven together through these images. 

Local Prize:
“ANABA” by Kristin Osani 

The judges were reminded of their early days in Japan, when abundant advice was offered by those who had arrived years prior. Some of us, however, felt that we were stepping into an unknown world as we would probably not visit the type of bar described. The “young and casual” nuance stood in contrast to many more traditionally-focused submissions.

USA Local Prize:
“Capturing the Zen Spirit” by Michael H. Lester 

The judges found that it was easy to step into the mind of the photographer. A moment of silence and contemplation is provided for the reader.

Honorable Mentions:

• “The Sky Shrine” by Joanne Carmen Rasul Binti Abdullah 
• “The Winds of Kyoto” by Wim Vanderbauwhede
• “Turn of the Century” by Martin Rice
• “The Bell” by Allen S. Weiss 
• “Signs of the Times” by Craig Hoffman 
• Untitled by Angiola Inglese

Congratulations to the winners, and our deepest feelings of gratitude to all those who took the time to submit their writings on the ancient capital. Plans are underway to hold another writing competition in 2021. We look forward to receiving your submissions again at that time. A call for entries will be published on the Writers in Kyoto website in mid-Autumn 2020.

We wish for everyone’s health and safety, and hope that we will have a chance to meet again in Kyoto very soon.