Original Children’s Story/Picture Book Contest
Commemorating the Opening of the “Office in the Forest”
Entry Guidelines
*This is what we are looking for! Original works based on one of the following themes:
(1) The Seicho-No-Ie Principle of the Sundial Way of Life that looks only at the bright side of all things
(2) Depiction of life in the forest, the wonderfulness of Nature, the deep connection between human beings and Nature
*Anyone can enter!
Anyone—member or non-member—who agrees and supports the themes is invited to enter regardless of religious affiliation, age, gender, or nationality. However, entries must be in one of the following languages: Japanese, English, Portuguese.
*￥300,000 Grand Prize; possibility of publication of the winning works
In addition to the cash prizes—Grand Prize￥300,000, two (2) First Prizes ￥100,000, three (3) Honorable Mentions ￥30,000—to be given in each category (children’s story and picture book), prize-winning works will be considered for publication.
[Children’s Story Division]
Japanese stories should be 4000 characters or less; Stories in English or Portuguese should be in 2000 words or less. Entries should be typewritten (on word processor or PC) and printed on A4 (8 ½ x 11) size paper. Page layout can be either portrait or landscape.
[Picture Book Division]
Entries should not be bound. Drawings and text should be separate. Please indicate the page numbers clearly so the judges will be able to identify the texts and corresponding drawing. All mediums and techniques are acceptable. Entries may be cooperative efforts, with one person providing the drawings and the other the text.
[Dimensions]
Contents: 200mm x 200mm (If the contents are meant to be spread pages: 200 mm width, 400 mm length)
Front and back covers: 215 mm x 215 mm (If the front and back covers are to be a spread, 215 mm width, 430 mm length)
[Page configurations]
One (1) front and one(1) back cover, contents 22 pages (11 if a spread) or 30 pages (15 if a spread)
[Total number of pages]
24 or 32
[How to apply]
Write your name, address, age, gender, occupation (name of school and grade if you are a student), daytime contact phone number, e-mail address, how you heard about this contest, title of your entry, concept/theme, and send it via registered mail, home delivery service (UPS or Federal Express) or messenger along with your entry to the appropriate address indicated below. All submissions to the Picture Book Division should be color copies and not the original.
*Please note that entries will not be returned, so please do not submit originals. Those whose works are selected will be asked to submit their original artwork at a later date.
[Deadline]
Postmark deadline is Saturday, June 30, 2012
[Notification of Results]
Fall 2012 (Tentative)
[Judges]
Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi (Seicho-No-Ie President), Junko Taniguchi (Seicho-No-Ie White Dove Association President), Tsuyoshi Nunoi (Seicho-No-Ie Artists’ Federation President), Yasuko Nagai (Illustrator), Patricia Wada (First Vice Chairperson, Seicho-No-Ie U.S. Missionary Headquarters), Rev. Junji Miyaura (Chief, Regional Lecturers Section, Seicho-No-Ie Brazil Missionary Headquarters), Rev. Mutsuji Yamaoka (Chief, Publications/Public Relations Department, Seicho-No-Ie International Headquarters), Shigeto Kishi (President, Nippon Kyobunsha)
For further information on the entry guidelines and entry form, visit the Seicho-No-Ie official website or telephone Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters’ Publications and Public Relations Department (03-5474-6092).
------------------------------------------------------------------Interview with Judges of the Contest
Shinsokan Is the Source of Creation
Rev. Junji Miyaura, Ordained Minister and Writer of Children’s Stories
—What was your motivation for making picture books?
What started me on writing picture books was that in 1996 I started to contribute children’s stories to the small newspaper distributed at children’s gatherings in Brazil, Querubim. It was decided to publish one of the stories, and the first picture book came out in the following year (1997). To this day, 22 of my children’s stories have been published in Portuguese and some have been translated into Spanish, English, Japanese and Korean.
—How do you get the idea for a story?
Sometimes I get it during Shinsokan or sometimes it comes in a dream or in my day-to-day life.
—What is the point which you try to convey in your works?
I try to express the teaching, “Man is a child of God, who is perfect and harmonious.” For example, the picture book, Dobutsutachi no Oshie (Animals’ Teaching), tells a story of how the forest became a happy, heavenly place when animals began to see only one another’s good points.
—Who drew the illustrations?
Right now I use a professional illustrator. The Brazil Missionary Headquarters’s Production Office makes final adjustments of illustrations and corresponding texts.
—What is the Reaction of the Readers?
The content that deals with the Truth in an easy-to-understand fashion is well-received as reading material for children who are read to or read themselves. I have also heard a case. where a child read to his mother a story on the theme, “Overcoming Difficulties,” the mother’s depressive condition was cured.
—What gives you joy of creating?
I cannot tell you what great joy it is for me when I see the finished product of a picture book. I feel a sense of upliftment when I see excitement in the children’s eyes when they are reading a picture book or when I hear a teacher’s joyous comment after using the picture books.
—Can you give advice to the applicants of this contest?
The important thing is to practice Shinsokan. I hope they will make the creation, not to win the award, but to help humanity and the world move forward in a good direction.
—Thank you very much.
-----------------------------------------Use Even a Small Happening as Material for the Work
Yasuko Nagai, Illustrator
—What introduced you to picture books?
I was hospitalized for more than a year because of the leg injury I sustained when I was five years old, and picture books were what sustained me mentally then. When I was sad or things seemed difficult, I read a picture book, put myself in the protagonist’s place and enjoyed a world of imagination.
—When did your picture books begin to be published?
About 17 years after I resigned from my company and became a freelance illustrator, my plan for a picture book was approved for publication. When I saw the published book, I felt I wanted to jump and go around and thank everyone.
—What is your mental state when starting a new creation?
I reflect upon myself and ask myself, “What is my unique personality?”, “How can I express it in the illustration?” and “How would a child step into the story and truly like it?”
—What is the best part of collaborating with someone else?
I am the type of a person who welcomes the challenge of difficult propositions, such as “I want to see the kind of an illustration which I had never seen.” (Laughter) I feel that the other person brings out my characteristic and expression which I was unable to draw out until now. I also enjoy getting together with him/her and talk at a so-called “preliminary discussion session.”
—Your recent picture book, Namida (Tears) (illustration by Yasuko Nagai, text by Ryota Hosoya) won high reviews.
It is a picture book on the theme—If you feel like crying, you should cry. That is a sign from heaven that says, “Don’t forget me.” I believe that the day will come when the victims of the great earthquake will need it.
— Can you give advice to the applicants of this contest?
I think it is a good idea to first draw your idea on paper. Even those who think they cannot draw can actually draw something. Do not take it too seriously. A small happening in our daily life that makes you sad or happy can become material for a picture book.
—It has been helpful. Thank you very much.
---------------------------------------History of Seicho-No-Ie’s Children’s Stories
Many Publications by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi and Rev. Seicho Taniguchi
Seicho-No-Ie’s story books for children have a long and rich tradition. The children’s stories by the founder, Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi used to appear in a series in Seicho-No-Ie Holy Magazine and were later compiled into Hikari Monogatari Shu (A Collection of Stories of Light) and published as the first children’s story book in 1953. In the same year and in 1955 Yoi ko no Dowa (Stories for Good Children) and Ohanashi Dokuhon (Story Book), respectively. Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi wrote these stories with the hope that youth would enjoy reading them and to give them confidence and courage. Right now these books have been compiled into the Taniguchi Masaharu Dowashu (A Collection of Children’s Stories by Masaharu Taniguchi), five volumes in total: (Ryu ni natta Mamono no Ohjo (A Demon Princess Who Became a Dragon), Oshakasama no Dowa (Buddha’s Children’s Stories), Kamisama to Ryugu no Hanashi (Stories of God and the Dragon Palace), Maho no Hana Monogatari (Story of Magic Nose), Kofukumono wa Dare (Who Is the Happy One?) 1976-1977) In addition, Shin Faust Monogatari (New Faust Story, currently out of stock) was published in 1975.
As for former President of Seicho-No-Ie, Rev. Seicho Taniguchi, two children’s story books were published: Komyo Shokoku Monogatari (Stories of Nations of Light (subsequently re-titled Sekai no Fushigina Hanashi (World’s Mysterious Stories) and Kiiroi Todai (Yellow Lighthouse) were published in 1956 and 1957, respectively. Nine of these stories were made into narrative comis and compiled into four volumes of Taniguchi Seicho Dowa Komikku (Rev. Seicho Taniguchi Children’s Story/Comic Book, published by Nippon Kyobunsha), although they are currently out of stock.
There are no publications of books for children by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, but five stories resembling “children’s stories” are included in the Konna Tokoroni….(Oh, Right Here…., published by Seicho-No-Ie).
Nippon Kyobunsha, Co., Ltd. has a history of publishing many books for children. Currently eight books (excluding Seicho-No-Ie Holy Books) are being sold.