Marvel at the amazing and creative ways that writers can imagine Little Tokyo and expand the fictional boundaries of the Japanese American experience at the 11th Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest Awards Ceremony! 2024 marks the 140th anniversary of Little Tokyo, and this year’s event will be a vibrant celebration, its history and culture by those who love it, with special performers to be announced and raffle giveaways at the end of the program.

Each year, the 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. In this celebration, the winning stories in the three contest categories—Adult, Youth, and Japanese language—will be showcased with dramatic readings by special guests.  Each category winner is awarded cash prize and their story will be published in The Rafu Shimpo, on Discover Nikkei, and on the Little Tokyo Historical Society website. 

The contest is presented by Little Tokyo Historical Society in partnership with JANM’s Discover Nikkei project.