IMPORTANT UPDATE ON PERSPECTIVE[S] PUBLICATION SCHEDULE:

Perspective[S] is moving to a quarterly publication schedule. Beginning with our October 2026 issue, issues will be published in late January, April, July, and October. Each call for submissions will open on the first day of the preceding month and remain open through the end of that month. (Effective August 31, 2026)

Your Voice,

NATSU Perspective[S]

Submit Your Essay

Editorial Disclaimer

The views expressed in Perspective[S] essays are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Natsuyasumi Project, its team, mentors, advisors, or partners.

NATSU Perspective[S] | October 2026 Issue | Call for Submissions

What Should We Keep, and What Should We Change?

Eligibility:

High school or university student, or currently on a gap year; ages 15–21; prior involvement or camp participation NOT required

Fee:

None

Length:

250–400 words (precision is key!)

Style:

Persuasive opinion editorial (op-ed)

Language:

English preferred; Japanese accepted

Cultural diversity reminds us that there is no single way to live, speak, dress, believe, or belong. Traditions can connect people to family, community, history, and identity. But culture is never fixed. Practices are questioned, reinterpreted, reformed, and sometimes left behind. What one person sees as meaningful or worth preserving, another may experience as restrictive, harmful, or unjust. Even people within the same community may disagree about what should remain and what should change.

Choose a cultural practice, tradition, or norm from a community or culture you belong to or know closely. Consider whether it should be preserved, changed, reinterpreted, or left behind. Writers are encouraged to develop a clear framework for evaluating the practice they choose, and to apply it consistently in their analysis.

Essays may draw from family life, education, language, gender, religion, fashion, media, migration, or everyday cultural norms.

Submit Your Essay

Submission Window: September 1 – 30, 2026 (Japan Standard Time)

Issue Editor: Yifan Xu (Stanford M.A. · Deloitte Tokyo)

Eligibility
& Format

A note to writers and readers:

Perspective[S] welcomes intellectually engaged and nuanced arguments, including those that challenge commonly held views. Writers should approach their subject with care and respect, and readers are encouraged to engage with differing perspectives in the same spirit.

Perpective[S] June 2026

Now Available for Download

Past Issues

Cycle 1: Merit in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Read the full issue here

What is Perspective[S]?

NATSU Perspective[S] is a curated editorial platform where the next generation of thinkers engages with the world’s most pressing societal debates. By providing a stage for students to voice their opinions on urgent issues related to areas such as ethics, technology, and politics, we highlight the power of diverse viewpoints in shaping our collective future.

How does it work?

Every two months, we release a new thematic prompt focused on a significant debate in technology, ethics, sustainable development, and beyond. Students are invited to submit a concise, high-impact op-ed (250–400 words) defending their unique stance. If you wish to submit in Japanese, please ensure it is of comparable length.

Who can submit?

We welcome submissions from all students currently enrolled in high school or university, between the ages of 15 and 21. We value the plurality of thought that comes from different academic stages and cultural backgrounds.

How often are pieces published?

Perspective[S] is currently published quarterly, with issues released in late January, April, July, and October. For each issue, our editorial team selects three to four of the most compelling submissions to be featured in our newsletter and on our digital platform.

What are you looking for in an essay?

You do not need to be a professional writer. What we value most is clear thinking: essays that go beyond describing a problem and instead present a specific perspective with clarity, concision, and strong reasoning.

Why Submit to NATSU Perspective[S]?

Selective Recognition: With only three to four pieces selected per edition, being published is a distinct honor that demonstrates high-level critical thinking and communication skills—a valuable addition to university and graduate school applications.

Global Exposure: Your ideas will be shared directly with our growing international community through the Natsu newsletter and our dedicated digital platform.

The Annual Print Edition: Selected pieces from each cycle may also be featured in our year-end print magazine, a physical archive of the year’s most impactful student discourse.

A Platform for Inspiration: This is your opportunity to move beyond the classroom and share your perspective on pressing societal issues with a global audience.

We value your raw insight. If you prefer to have only your voice heard, you have the option to submit your piece anonymously to ensure your ideas speak for themselves.

Submission Guidelines & Policies

Editorial Standards: To maintain a constructive and respectful environment for discourse, Perspective[S] does not publish content that promotes hate speech, discrimination, or personal attacks. We seek pieces that challenge ideas through logic and evidence rather than hostility. All submissions are subject to editorial review to ensure they align with our commitment to rigorous and ethical dialogue.

1. Eligibility & Open Access

Age: Open to all students aged 15–21 (High School or University).
Affiliation: Participation is open to the global community; prior involvement in Natsu Project's programs is not required. Frequency: You may submit one piece per bi-monthly cycle.

2. Content Standards

Originality: All submissions must be your original work. Plagiarism or the use of AI-generated text without disclosure will result in disqualification.
Constructive Discourse: We do not publish content that promotes hate speech, discrimination, harassment, or personal attacks. We value logical rigor over hostility.
Tone: Pieces should be analytical and grounded in reason. While we value strong opinions, they should be defended with logic.

3. Formatting & Style

Length: Submissions must be between 250 and 400 words. If you wish to submit in Japanese, please ensure it is of comparable length.
Voice: You are welcome to use either a first-person "I" tone or a third-person tone. However, your piece should remain analytical. Use evidence, lived experience, and logic to defend your stance.
Language: English is the preferred language for submissions to reach our global audience. However, Japanese is also acceptable if you feel it is the most appropriate medium for your specific perspective, topic, or cultural background.

4. The Editorial Timeline

Submission Phase: The portal typically opens on the 1st of every odd month (e.g., March) and closes on the last day of that month.
Selection Phase: The editorial team reviews entries during the first ten days of the following month.
Notification & Publication: Selected authors are usually notified by the middle of the second month, with publication following shortly thereafter.

5. Attribution & Privacy

Choice of Identity: We respect your preference. You may choose to publish under your full name or remain completely anonymous.
Verification: Even for anonymous submissions, you must provide valid contact and age verification for our internal records.

6. Selection & Editorial Rights

Curated Selection: We typically feature three to four pieces per cycle, though we reserve the discretion to adjust this number based on the quality and volume of submissions. Editorial decisions are final.
Minor Edits: We reserve the right to make minor edits for clarity and grammar without changing your core message.
Rights: By submitting, you grant Natsu Project and the Perspective[S] program the non-exclusive right to publish your work across our digital and print platforms.