Submit your entries for the Hamaguchi Essay Contest for High School Students latest by August 14, 2025.
“Hamaguchi Award” is the annual international award for individuals and/or organizations that have made significant contributions to the enhancement of coastal resilience against tsunami, storm surge and other coastal disasters. As an initiative to further educate and disseminate coastal disaster prevention technologies,we hold “Hamaguchi Essay contest” for young people who is expected to lead the next generation.
“Hamaguchi Award” is an international award for individuals and/or organizations that have made significant scientific or pragmatic contributions to the enhancement of coastal resilience against tsunami, storm surge and other coastal disasters, which will raise people’s awareness of disaster resilience.
The award was established in 2016 by the International Promotion Committee for Tsunami/Coastal Disaster Resilience Technology due to the designation of November 5th as “World Tsunami Awareness Day” on the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) in December 2015. November 5th was set as Tsunami Prevention Day in Japan before the UNGA designation. The award has been named after Mr. Hamaguchi Goryo who protected and saved villagers from a tsunami about 160 years ago.
Hamaguchi Goryo was born on a little village which is called Hirogawa town, Wakayama Prefecture now. When the large tsunami resulting from the 1854 Nankai Earthquake struck the village, he guided his fellow villagers to evacuate to higher ground by setting fire to his precious sheaves of rice equivalent to his whole year’s harvest as a signal of warning. His post-disaster contributions such as building shelters for victims and breakwater apparently minimized post-tsunami damage.
Through reading Japan’s famous anecdote of “Inamura-no-hi” (burning of harvested rice sheaves), please share how you feel, think and experiences.
Please refer to the web site of Inamura-no-Hi no Yakata.
Excellent award will be given to up to 3 entrants and Award will be given to up to 15 entrants.
Certificates will be mailed to the winners.
Please check attached documents for your information:
Interested participants can register through this link.
The entry must be received no later than August 14, 2025.
