10th Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest
Each year, the Little Tokyo Historical Society’s Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest heightens awareness of Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo by challenging both new and experienced writers to write a story that captures the spirit and essence of Little Tokyo and the people in it. Writers from three categories, Adult, Youth, and Japanese language, weave fictional stories set in the past, present, or future. This year is the 10th anniversary of the Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest. On May 20, 2023 in a celebration moderated by Tamlyn Tomita, noted actors, Greg Watanabe, Mika Dyo, and Mayumi Seco performed dramatic readings of each winning entry.
Winners
- Adult Category: “The Last Days of The Dandy Lion” by DC Palter
Honorable mentions - “Aftershocks” by Alison Ozawa Sanders
- Youth Category: “One Thousand Cranes” by Jocelyn Doan
Honorable mentions - “Unlocking Memories” by Madeline Thach
- “Ba-chan” by Zoe Lerdworatawee
- Japanese Language Category: “Color” by Miho Hirayama
Honorable mentions - “Why not? Little Tokyo!” by Kosuke Kaburagi (Japanese only)
*Read stories from other Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contests:
1st Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest >>
2nd Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest >>
3rd Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest >>
4th Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest >>
5th Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest >>
6th Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest >>
7th Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest >>
8th Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest >>
9th Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest >>
Stories from this series
One Thousand Cranes
May 21, 2023 • Jocelyn Doan
The gentle breeze carrying the scent of freshly made mochi from the next-door shop greeted me as I strolled down the familiar pathway lined with vibrant bamboo stalks and hanging wisteria vines toward my grandmother, Akemi Tsurumi. Her wrinkled, yet steady hands lovingly caressed the colorful paper that surrounded her in a circle, like a goddess among her faithful believers. I started to slow down my footsteps in hopes of catching her working her magic that seemed to flow from …