Gakushuin student wins essay contest

The media need to provide a makeover to eco-friendly lifestyles to give them an image of being cool, stylish and sophisticated.

Englsh essay competition winner Tomoko Yanai, stands third from right. The others are, from left: second prize winners Akane Nozawa, Katrina Nessa Abad; Kenny Loui; and Midori Hase. Second prize winner Michael Eber was absent. On the far right is Kazuko Ando, who received a “special achievement” award. (Takahiro Yanai/ Staff Photographer)

That's according to university student Tomoko Yanai, winner of the 2nd International Herald Tribune/ The Asahi Shimbun college-student English-language essay writing contest.

Yanai, a sophomore at Gakushuin University in Tokyo's Toshima Ward, took the first prize Monday with her essay calling for media companies to step up their roles in the fight to curb global warming.

Second prizes went to five students: Kenny Loui of Mejiro University; Midori Hase of Ritsumeikan University; Akane Nozawa of Indiana University; Michael Eber of the University of Michigan; and Katrina Nessa Abad of Nagasaki University.

A "special achievement" award was given to Kazuko Ando, a 60-year-old graduate school student of the University of Kitakyushu, for her essay about how she wants to set up an English "practice hall."

Letters of thanks were also presented to eight universities due to the large number of entries received from them: Toyo Eiwa University; the University of Kitakyushu; Tenri University; Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University; Takushoku University; Osaka Christian College; Seinan Gakuin University; and Yamaguchi Prefectural University.

A total of 670 students entered the contest. (IHT/Asahi: July 10,2007)