Support for "A Brief Message from the Heart" Letter Contest

Since 1995 we have supported this contest, begun by the Maruoka-cho Cultural Foundation in Fukui Prefecture. We support this event mainly for the following two reasons. First, the contest features the spirit common to our message: Passing important values from people to people. Second, Maruoka-cho is where Masatomo Sumitomo, our founder, was born.

29th "A Brief Message from the Heart" Letter Contest Award Ceremony

The award ceremony for the 29th “A Brief Message from the Heart” Letter Contest was held at the Takamuku Community Center in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, on May 15, 2022.

The 2021 competition’s theme was “Kokoro,” a Japanese word whose meanings and associations include heart, mind, thought, and feeling.
The 166 award-wining letters, which were announced in January, were honored (5 Grand Prizes, 10 Excellence Awards, 20 Sumitomo Awards, etc.).

Five students from the Maruoka Minami Junior High School of Sakai City read the top award-winning letters. As the author of each letter appeared on the podium, the feelings expressed in his or her letter touched the hearts of the audience and the venue was charged with emotion.
A certificate made of the local Echizenori textile was presented to each of the winners.

Award ceremony — The selection committee commenting on this year’s letters

A contestant receiving a Sumitomo Award from Ryuichiro Hirano of the Sumitomo Group Public Affairs Committee

An award-winning letter is shown on the screen

29th "A Brief Message from the Heart" Letter Contest Winners Announced

An event to announce winners of the 29th “A Brief Message from the Heart” Letter Contest was held online on January 28, 2022. In this annual contest sponsored by Sumitomo Group Public Affairs Committee, contestants compete by writing memorable short letters on a given theme.

The 2021 competition’s theme was “Kokoro,” a Japanese word whose meanings and associations include heart, mind, thought, and feeling. Of 46,912 entries from Japan and abroad, 166 letters were chosen as winners (5 Grand Prizes, 10 Excellence Awards, 20 Sumitomo Awards, etc.). The award-winning letters expressing the rich palette of moods and emotions associated with “Kokoro” were read out.

Click here to read about the award ceremonies of previous Letter Contests.

Previous Letter Contests

Over 1 Million Cumulative Entries

The cumulative entries to "A Brief Message from the Heart" Letter Contest," including those to its predecessor held 10 times from 1993 onward, exceeded one million (1,005,226 letters) on April 19, 2009.