24th | Support for "A Brief Message from the Heart" Letter Contest | Sponsorships | About Public Affairs Committee

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.

24th "A Brief Message from the Heart" Letter Contest Award Ceremony

An award ceremony for the 24th “A Brief Message from the Heart” Letter Contest was held at the Takamuku Community Center in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, on April 23, 2017. In this annual contest sponsored by Sumitomo Group Public Affairs Committee, contestants compete by writing memorable short letters on a given theme.

The 2016 competition's theme was "Sorry," and 178 letters were honored (5 Grand Prizes, 10 Excellence Awards, 20 Sumitomo Awards, etc.). The venue was decked out with a profusion sunflowers, gerbera and other blooms. Six students from the Maruoka Junior High School of Sakai City read the award-winning letters. The winners were presented with certificates made of the local Echizenori textile.

24th "A Brief Message from the Heart" Letter Contest Winners Announced

An event to announce winners of the 24th "A Brief Message from the Heart" Letter Contest was held at the Takamuku Community Center in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, on January 27, 2017. In this annual contest sponsored by Sumitomo Group Public Affairs Committee, contestants compete by writing memorable short letters on a given theme.

The 2016 competition's theme was "Sorry," and of 44,348 entries from Japan and abroad, 178 letters were chosen as winners (5 Grand Prizes, 10 Excellence Awards, 20 Sumitomo Awards, etc.). Six students from the Maruoka Junior High School of Sakai City read the award-winning letters expressing the full range of sentiments associated with being sorry.

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.