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Celebrating Creativity: The Machida Short Short Competition 2025

In a testament to the vibrant literary culture of Machida City, the 2025 Short Short Competition and its associated mini exhibition will be held at the Machida Citizen Literary Museum, commonly known as Kotobara Land. This initiative, which began in 2021, encourages budding writers to pen their creative tales in the form of short shorts - concise stories that can be composed on a single manuscript page, presenting impactful ideas with engaging conclusions. This year's contest marks its fifth anniversary, receiving an impressive total of 847 submissions, from which 10 outstanding works have been awarded.

The prize-winners are:

• - Mayor's Prize:

- Kaho Kobayashi for "Forest Artist" (4th grade, Machida Municipal Chuo Third Elementary School)
- Sota Kobayashi for "Flying into the Fire" (3rd grade, Machida Municipal Machida Third Junior High School)

• - Education Director's Prize:

- Kota Fukushima for "Cat" (6th grade, Machida Municipal Narusedai Elementary School)
- Yuna Takagi for "Roulette in Space" (1st grade, Machida Municipal Machida Second Junior High School)

• - President's Prize of Tokyo Machida Nakaro Rotary Club:

- Tomma Ishizuka for "Return of the Stone" (6th grade, Machida Municipal Fujinodai Elementary School)
- Ai Murayama for "Piano Field" (3rd grade, Machida Municipal Tsurukawa Second Junior High School)

• - Judges' Prize:

- Kanna Hirose for "Strange Creatures Appearing during Break Time" (3rd grade, Machida Municipal Machida First Elementary School)
- Miyu Nakai for "Delicious Language Restaurant" (3rd grade, Wako High School)

• - Kotobara Prize:

- Takumi Inoue for "Alien Lemonade" (5th grade, Machida Municipal Tsuruma Elementary School)
- Raku Usui for "Composition Dog" (2nd grade, Machida Municipal Tsurukawa Second Junior High School)

The mini exhibition will coincide with the awards presentation, showcasing the creativity of Machida’s youth. It will run from January 20, 2026, to April 5, 2026, and will be held in the Literary Salon on the first floor of the Machida Citizen Literary Museum. The exhibition will be open from 9 AM to 10 PM, with closures on Mondays (except February 23) and the second Thursday of each month.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for January 24, 2026, from 2 PM to 3 PM in the hall on the third floor of the Machida Citizen Forum, with doors opening at 1:30 PM. There is a limited capacity of 50 attendees on a first-come, first-served basis, so early arrival is recommended.

The Kotobara Land initiative aims to nurture the next generation of authors emerging from Machida. The city's literary landscape is complemented by its artistic projects designed to engage and inspire its community.

Discovering Machida City

Located in the southern part of Tokyo, Machida City is home to approximately 430,000 residents. With only a 30-minute train ride from central Tokyo, it serves as an ideal blend of urban convenience and natural beauty. The area surrounding Machida Station is bustling with large commercial establishments, while traditional shopping streets maintain their historic charm. As you move away from the station, you can find scenic rural landscapes, lush parks, and agricultural fields thriving with locally grown vegetables, embodying the tranquility of nature alongside urban amenities.

For more information about Machida City, visit the official city website.
Explore resources on parenting and city promotions on the Machida Childcare Site, as well as the official Machida City Promotion channels on Twitter and Instagram.