STONY BROOK, N.Y., September 27, 2005

The Japan Center at SBU today announced an annual scholastic essay competition that promotes awareness and understanding of Japanese culture in the U.S. The 2005 contest -- "Japan and Me" -- in collaboration with Canon U.S.A., Inc., offers high school and college students the opportunity to focus on one or more aspects of Japan in relation to themselves.

The three recipients in the high school category each will receive $1,500 and the college category recipient will receive $2,000.  Submissions should discuss one or more aspects of Japan (such as history, traditional culture, pop culture, art, philosophy, society, technology, and industry) and also include personal experiences, future goals, life history, and personal philosophy. Essays should be a maximum of 750 words in the high school category and 1,500 words in the college category. Entrants must be in 10th, 11th or 12th grade, or be enrolled in undergraduate programs for 2005-06.

Entries must be postmarked by December 1 and should be sent to The Japan Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y., 11794-5343.

Judging for the competition will be conducted by Stony Brook University faculty. Honorary judges are Shirley Strum Kenny, President of the University, and Yoroku Adachi, President and CEO of Cannon U.S.A., Inc. The competition is under the supervision of Eriko Sato, Executive Director of the Japan Center at Stony Brook University.

For complete rules and additional information for the Japan and Me essay contest, please visit http://naples.cc.sunysb.edu/CAS/Japanese.nsf/pages/news