Make Japan (or Japanese culture) an element of your story.

Posted in Narrative on Mar 24, 2023

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✍️ 37 stories

“Ikigai” by M L Siddall

Submitted to Contest #191

What is your ‘thing’? What is your purpose? What is your reason for being? Is your passion for architecture? Is it for snow-tipped mountains? Is it for laughter that cracks a frown? Do you value friendships, or do you value your own wealth? Are you driven by a desire to gain or by a desire to conserve? Do you want to take life fast? Or do you want to take life slow? My life’s worth is in the little things. The small souvenirs of life. The memories that I alone have possession of to keep in the pocket of my mind. The warm, sweet smell of jam...

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“The Japanese lady in Bangkok” by Dao Huy Kien

Submitted to Contest #191

Liem was gazing out of the car window. “Is it your first time in Bangkok, Sir?” the taxi driver asked him. “No, I’ve been here twice” he said. Liem felt as though it was his first time in this city, however. He did not remember anything about the city as the last time he came here was nearly ten years before. In his memory, it was just a city like any other city in this world. Nevertheless, he had a feeling that Bangkok had changed a lot and emerged to be a world-class city with modern buildings and advanced infrastructure. “I di...

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“The Death of Honor” by Vincent Paiement Désilets

Submitted to Contest #191

The old man Takeshi stood alone at the end of the counter in the Tachinomiya bar. He lifted his glass, dragged the water with his finger to complete the circle his beer left on the wood. The beer didn’t taste like the one he shared with what was left of his fellow soldiers at the end of World War II. It didn’t taste like the one he had after he finished building his house with his bare hands. It tasted like nothing. Because it meant nothing. &nb...

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“The Loss of the Sakura” by Mary Jabagchourian

Submitted to Contest #191

The pink petals of the cherry blossoms have finally bloomed after the long wait. Spring has come to Japan once more as it blankets the country in pinks and whites. People gather under the umbrella of petals for a Hanami (Sakura viewing). Young and old, man and woman, come together to celebrate the Spring that brings with it new life and rebirth after chasing away the cold winter. The joy of the children running around and the loud laughs of the adults drinking their Beer and Sake fill the air with renewed joy. Yet, I feel like a black spot a...

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“Feeding to Music” by Clare Horwood

Submitted to Contest #191

FEEDING TO MUSIC It was April 1987. Tokyo. The constant traffic noises were always there outside her hospital window. From it she could see the Sakura tree in full blossom. To her non-Japanese eyes this was such a special sight and she never tired of looking at it. Emily had been living in Tokyo for eighteen months. Her husband had been transferred there with the international company, IBM, from downtown Sydney to...

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“The Button of Origin” by Agnieszka Baczkowska-Maśluszczak

Submitted to Contest #191

The master wasn’t pleased with me. I wasn’t making much progress, even though I honestly tried my best.“You try too hard,” he said, “your thoughts are the problem.” I gave him a long look. I deeply resented his cryptic communication style. I had to admit it was very Zen though. “I don’t even know what that means,” I sighed, “um, respectfully,” I added, seeing his eyebrows come together. Master Hao gave out a growl and stood up. His brown, oak silk robe rustled and I felt a delicate smell of citrus flowers. He walked to a small table in ...

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“I Have An Agent In Japan” by David B Fraser

Submitted to Contest #191

The movie was called Undead Fish IV and I sat in the bleachers of an Olympic swimming pool with two hundred other extras. I was wearing a blue three piece suit and feeling rather humiliated. The crowded indoor space was quite humid as indoor pools are. I was sweaty and bored while the film crew spent hours setting their camera and lights. I had only brought my suit because as a union extra I was expected to have a change of clothes if the film company didn’t like my street clothes. The third assistant director,...

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Make Japan (or Japanese culture) an element of your story.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 37 stories

“Ikigai” by M L Siddall

“The Japanese lady in Bangkok” by Dao Huy Kien

“The Death of Honor” by Vincent Paiement Désilets

“The Loss of the Sakura” by Mary Jabagchourian

“Feeding to Music” by Clare Horwood

“The Button of Origin” by Agnieszka Baczkowska-Maśluszczak

“I Have An Agent In Japan” by David B Fraser

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with your character(s) going to buy some flowers.

Write about a character who is starting to open up to life again.

Write a story about a character who’s late to witness a special event.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “I feel alive.”

Contest #191

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

276

Contest entries

170

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: