The International House of Japan will hold an essay competition in celebration of its reopening.

Each participant should send a nonreturnable essay between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31 on the theme "In Search of Coexistence for Plural Values -- What we can do to create a society and a world where we can share our values beyond cultural, ethnic and religious barriers."

One essay will be accepted per person either by e-mail or mail. The top award will carry a prize of 300,000 yen, and the second-highest award, which will go to two essays, will each carry a prize of 100,000 yen.

The essay should be written in either Japanese or English, in no more than 12,000 words in Japanese and 5,000 words in English. Participants can choose any topic as long as it is based on the designated theme.

The winners will be announced on the International House of Japan's Web site and will be notified by the end of February. Their essays will run in an International House publication. The Japan Times is a supporter of the contest.

For details, visit the Web site www.i-house.or.jp, call (03) 3470-3211 or fax (03) 3470-3170. Essays should be sent to the Program Committee of the International House of Japan at 11-16, Roppongi 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 or [email protected] by e-mail.