Become a Contributor

“Every issue of the Kyoto Journal is like a beautiful paperbound book…the most beautifully and straightforwardly designed magazine around… It has been around for about two decades, and no writers or artists are ever paid for their contributions, making it one of the most consistently high-quality “open source” publications anywhere.”

—David Rothenberg, Parabola

Submissions

KJ has always been non-profit and all-volunteer produced, so our contributors (like our editors) are unpaid. As a token of our sincere appreciation, we offer contributors a free copy of the print issue they are featured in with the option to purchase extra copies at the cost to make that particular issue + any extra shipping. If your piece is featured online, we can offer you a copy of whatever print issue is current at that time at the cost to make + the most economical rate of shipping.

Kyoto Journal welcomes Asia-related articles, essays, reportage, personal observations, interviews, poetry, reviews, fiction, humor, and translation (or various combinations of the above). We look especially for material with a long “shelf-life.” Our readers tend to keep back issues of KJ for reference; we’re concerned with building an accumulative body of material of lasting value.

Our masthead states: “Insights from Asia” – submissions must have some clear connection with Asia.

Approaches should be consistent with our non-specialist readership (though on the whole are reasonably familiar with Asian societies and cultures). We do not envision KJ as an academic or literary journal, so please refrain from sending us academic papers. We have published a number of articles that originated as theses and research papers, but in such cases an editor has worked with the author to focus on specific aspects, with structural revision and some ‘translation’ for general readership.

We seek ideas that illuminate cultural differences in a positive way, promoting intercultural understanding via specifics, not generalities. We try to leave the “Discovering Asia” genre of passionate but superficial first impressions to other publications that are more oriented towards newcomers and tourists.

We experience a backlog of book reviews, fiction and poetry in particular and often keep pieces on hold before deciding whether we can fit them into a print issue. Because we look for links and resonances between articles in each particular issue, wee may hold submissions pending emergence of a suitable context—in which case we will let you know.

By submitting to us you agree to have your piece cross-posted on our website [kyotojournal.org] in the future. If you would like to opt out, please let us know at the time of submission.

See below for the relevant e-mail address (please do not send to our general contact address as the editors will not see it).

Format

Please send your file in Word (preferred) or Pages.

Please name file: KJ[category]_your surname-monthyear.doc. (e.g. KJ_Encounters_Surname_Feb20.docx)

Please include a bio note of maximum 50 words with any URLs or social media handles, to be used if your submission is published.

Response Time

The editors are all volunteer and regrettably we are unable to respond to all unsuccessful submissions. Please refer to the advice by each editor below.

FEATURES

Essentially we look for articles and essays that come from the heart; that are original, creative, sincere, and thought-provoking.

We believe strongly in brevity, but if a topic is of sufficient interest to carry readers’ attention, we do consider longer pieces. In our Asian Encounters section (Asia-related personal experiences), we aim for around 800 words, up to approximately 1,500 words maximum. Our usual length for feature articles is less than 3,000 words. KJ editors work closely with contributors to develop the potential of initial submissions.

INTERVIEWS & PROFILES

Interviews have always been a vital part of KJ.
We prefer direct Q & A format, but also welcome profiles of up to 3000 words.

submissions@kyotojournal.org

TRANSLATIONS

In our regular section called “In Translation,” we feature translations of work by Asian writers into English. This does not mean only fiction or poetry — it may be articles or essays also. Most of the stories we publish run between 2,000 to 3,000 words.

We also seek to draw more attention to translation as a field that has been – and remains – vital in developing cross-cultural awareness, through profiles of and interviews with translators.

To submit a translation, please send a proposal first by e-mail: intranslation@kyotojournal.org

HEARTWORK

The Heartwork section seeks to share stories of projects (all over Asia) that provide examples of ingenious (and mostly home-grown) solutions to pressing social and environmental problems. We seek reporting on the people and programs innovative ways to make a positive difference to people’s lives and their futures, and that could even be replicated or adapted to new contexts. Again we ask that you keep in mind our readership and do not submit reports that are meant for a specialized audience. High quality imagery is also a must.

heartwork@kyotojournal.org

FICTION

We are open to submissions that illuminate life and society in Asia, of up to 3,500 words. Please note that we often end up with a backlog of fiction to publish, so it can sometimes be around 6 months before publication in print, but we can go down an online route instead. We regret that we cannot respond to unsuccessful submissions. If you do not hear from us after 6 weeks, please assume that you have not been successful this time.

fiction@kyotojournal.org

POETRY

Poetry too must have a tangible connection with Asia. We specially seek creative, original poems from Asian poets, either originally written in English, or in translation. In the words of Robert Brady: “We do not seek words rooted in mere surface, confusion, whimsy, or bursts of ego, where the least of living happens, but poetry that holds up to time’s intelligent eye, that serves not the poet, but the spirit. Your spirit, and the hungry spirit 2000 years from now if we survive, as Li Po feeds us now, in another age, country, world from his own.”

Please limit initial submissions to three poems.

Consideration of submissions takes a minimum of three months.
We often end up with a backlog of poetry to publish, so it can sometimes be around 1 year before publication in print. Online only is an option as well.

poetry@kyotojournal.org

OUR KYOTO

What’s happening in Kyoto? What’s worth commenting on? What makes KJ’s hometown so special? Traditions, events, crafts, notable cultural connections, new developments? Do you have ideas for interviews? Fresh images of this ancient city that is still continually changing? Please note we cover reports of local events on our blog rather than in the print magazine.

submissions@kyotojournal.org

ASIAN ENCOUNTERS

Over the years we have been accumulating a fascinating collection of local insights mostly from expat residents across Asia, who go well beyond easy first impressions to share aspects of their Asian experience, often describing people they have been especially impressed by, and stand-out experiences that helped them re-envisage both place and society. We welcome further thought-provoking Asian Encounters…

submissions@kyotojournal.org

REVIEWS

Traditionally, the roles of a reviewer and a critic have been defined separately. The purpose of a review is to objectively introduce and evaluate a publication for the benefit of readers who might find it of interest. Criticism is a kind of commentary that assumes that the reader already knows the subject that is being discussed. The critic displays his/her erudition, with more value placed on creative synthesis of ideas.

For the KJ Reviews section we welcome a blending of both approaches, but prefer that the criticism doesn’t get too literary, artsy, or academic. (It should not read like a high school Eng. Lit. essay that tries to analyze or explain the author’s intentions). The review should be judged ultimately by its value to our readers, as in “access to [intellectual] tools.” Thus we prefer that reviews be short and informative. We also recommend that they include quotes or short extracts (if practicable) to give readers an immediate grasp of style and content. And it is essential that a review should be thought-provoking in its own right.

A good reviewer assesses the subject and provides a clear context for its consideration and appreciation. While we prefer to run positive reviews, constructive criticism is also worthwhile. However, if a reviewer has nothing good to say about a particular publication, they are likely wasting their own energy, and the readers’ time. We can make better use of our page space.

We publish the following three types of reviews:

Feature Reviews (up to 1,000 words max)

Short Takes (500 words at max, usually much less)

Long Views, covering worthwhile material that has long been available (it may even be out of print).

Reviews may cover any media with an Asian connection. Often reviews are selected to tie in with a feature article or the theme of a particular issue.

We strongly encourage reviewers themselves to look out for suitable material. They may also be aware of upcoming publications in their field and request that KJ orders them from the publisher. Reviewers get to keep the books they review.

Please send a proposal beforehand to ensure that we are interested, and to avoid possible duplication of effort.

reviews@kyotojournal.org

GRAPHIC MATERIAL

We welcome original and creative images, whether in traditional or new media. Duotone printing may be used for fine photographic work, and we have some full-color options. Design sometimes incorporates different papers in separate sections of the magazine.

Format

We accept photographic work on 35mm or larger color transparency, black and white prints, or high resolution scan. If the graphic is of a delicate historical nature or a valuable personal possession we suggest color xerox. Please do not send original slides, photos, or other irreplaceable artwork. KJ will not be held responsible for the loss of any submitted materials.

submissions@kyotojournal.org

Style

It’s difficult to define style guidelines for KJ, because what we look for is an identifiably individual voice in every article, in the same way that we have no design templates for layout — each piece is treated as a unique entity, so each issue becomes a collection of disparate voices, with resonances and connections, and maybe even disagreements.

The most immediate way to form a quick impression of the kind of writing that we favor is to look at the magazine itself—much of that content is here on this website.

Without insisting on any specific format, here are some pointers that may help contributors to envisage some kind of suitable “KJ style.”

1) Write with a particular reader in mind, representative of our intelligent and educated Asiaphile audience, worldwide. Think of someone you know well, who fits that description, and speak to them.

2) Write from the heart, not merely from the head. But don’t get too carried away, please…

3) Consider readers for whom English is a second language. This doesn’t necessarily mean oversimplification of style — or content. Good writing doesn’t need the excess baggage of local idiom, buzzwords, or jargon.

4) Write with the intention of drawing the reader in. We look for clear, attention-grabbing intros, sustained interest — and effective wrap-ups. Strategies for better accessibility may include using active rather than indirect speech; focusing on specifics (anecdote rather than generalization) — and especially, providing the necessary context (for example, briefly introduce your references rather than expecting readers to know them simply by name, give dates in addition to era names, etc.) to give a complete picture.

5) Avoid clichés such as “mute testimony” (and generalizations especially such as “the Japanese”) or unnecessary figures of speech (“part and parcel”).

6) Avoid self-centered writing. In all but exceptional cases, it’s not really about you. At least, it shouldn’t be. Even in an Encounters piece, don’t put yourself between the reader and the action (e.g. when describing what you see, it’s not necessary to say, “I saw…”) And try not to editorialize.

7) Avoid anonymous writing… (OK, so this contradicts the last point. Contradictions make life, and writing, interesting). Where practicable, build your relationship with the reader, implicitly revealing whom you are, what you stand for. But keep it subtle. Write constructively. Don’t waste space and energy in recycling — or demolition of — old ideas. Move on, build your own alternative vision, share it.

9) Above all, writing should be enjoyable — for both writer and reader.
KJ editors give feedback on submissions, and may offer suggestions on developing them further and making them more effective. Editing (for length and/or clarity) is collaborative; we ensure that we have full agreement from the author on a definitive version before publication. Authors retain copyright.

On KJ Style Conventions

Please present your material in the form of English that you are most comfortable with. In other words, we do not insist on U.S. spellings or grammatical conventions (noting, however, that many of our readers are from N. America). We do request consistency within a particular piece of writing.

Editorially, we always try to ensure that text is easily read, avoiding words, phrases or idioms that may seem unnecessarily strange to readers of either American or British English background. Some of our conventions have evolved during production of this magazine, through giving consideration to ease of reading, or of layout. We believe strongly in the elegance of simplicity and clarity…

Italics:
Non-English words should be italicized, but only on their first appearance. If meaning is not implied by the context, please give a short definition in parenthesis, using round brackets, or as an asterisked footnote. Non-English words in common use outside their home country (e.g. haiku, karaoke, futon, etc) need not be italicized. Names of publications, movies, ships etc. should always be italicized.

Quotes:
Conversation or quotes should be marked by double-inverted-comma quote marks, with embedded quotes, etc in single inverted commas. If quoted speech runs to more than one paragraph, yet remains contiguous, use quote marks at the beginning of each paragraph of speech, but at the end of only the last paragraph. Periods go outside brackets, but inside quote marks.

Time and date:
For Western calendar years, use BCE or CE, where necessary. Spell out the century (e.g.” the nineteenth century”) but for decades, use numerals (e.g. “the ‘70s”). We use the U.S. convention for time, separating hours and minutes with a colon (e.g. “3:35”).

General:
Japanese names are stated with family name preceding given name. In romanizing Japanese words, avoid use of double vowels to indicate a long sound (e.g. use “Ota” or “Ohta”, not “Oota”). For dashes, we normally use a long em dash (on a Mac keyboard, shift + option + hyphen), with a space before and after it. When numbers one through twenty occur within text, they are written out; from 21 we use numerals. Titles of articles, songs, TV programs and works of art etc. appear inside quotation marks. United States is abbreviated with periods: U.S.

Basic Interviewing Advice

Preparation: Do the basic reading and research. Find out whatever you reasonably can about the person you are going to interview. Give yourself time to think over what you’ve learned, and to see how you might approach them through their particular interests. List your questions. Keep them concise. Consider how they would flow best as a sequence. But don’t simply fixate on working methodically through that list. Be ready to extemporize, to play it by ear.If you plan to record the exchange, do a 5-10 second test recording & sound check with your interviewee before starting. Listen to the results before you get underway. Far too many recordings turn out to be nearly inaudible. And check occasionally that the equipment is actually recording. Few things are more embarrassing and frustrating than wrapping up a fascinating dialog – only to find the Pause button still on, or the battery dead. Good photos (clear, well-lit, high-resolution digital or sharp print) are a valuable addition to an interview, but portraiture is not an easy art to master. Contextual images may also be useful. If possible, take back issues with you to show KJ’s style and approach.
Within the Interview:

1. Pay attention to the person you are interviewing, not your question list and notes. An interview is a conversation too. Above all, listen carefully and follow up on things you hear, especially if something comes up that is different from what you expected. Find links, and try not to change the subject abruptly. A good interviewer engages with the subject in an interactive process that should draw out ideas (in both questions and answers) that neither the interviewer nor the interviewee has articulated in quite that form before.

2. One must be sure that one’s interviewee has really said what he/she has to say on a given subject before one goes on to the next topic or question. It’s often the case that interviewees have a sort of canned response which they offer initially, but that if the interviewer allows for a brief (and even slightly awkward) silence to elapse following that reply, then the richer, living, breathing, thinking-in-the-moment response comes forth. As long as you have your list of questions with you your interviewee will know that you’re prepared. Give him/her time to think. Just look a bit expectantly into their eyes when they pause and see if they don’t have more to say.

3. Likewise, it is essential to listen intently to each specific reply with the aim of drawing the interviewee out more with a “Why?” or a “How?” or whatever may be appropriate. Too many questioners are so eager to cover their whole list that they almost never hook a fish worth landing. Many of their interviewee’s answers seem truncated somehow, and that’s because in essence they are. Naturally, time constraints vary depending on whom one is interviewing, but if you have adequate time, use it to gently “walk” along with the interview all the way out to the edges of their mental turf. They may make a fresh discovery along the way and share it with you right then and there.

4. If you have reason to disagree with something, do so — succinctly but unequivocally. No sacred cows. Then let the interviewee respond fully.

5. Try to encourage the interviewee to offer anecdotes that illuminate the points he/she wishes to make. These are often the flesh and blood of a good interview. When listening to these look for little gaps if any and get him/her to fill them in (the setting, season, time of day, etc., as relevant). Do so unobtrusively, supportively, and enthusiastically.

6. Take notes about key ideas and facts even if you record the interview. These will help you to distinguish (and locate) the more significant and useful parts of your recording. Especially, if names are mentioned, confirm spelling if possible. You may need those details.

7. Writing an intro to an interview is generally best done after the interview has been completed, so that its focus and tone will match the body of the piece. Also, the interviewee is likely to tell you things that belong in the intro more than the body of the piece. But on the other hand, by the time you have researched the subject and are ready to do the interview, you should have a good general idea of your approach, and drafting a provisional intro may be helpful in clarifying that.

8. Trust between the interviewee and the interviewer (and by extension, KJ) is vital. After transcription and basic editing, the interviewee should be given the opportunity to fact-check the final draft and give feedback. And yes, editing is important: for clarity, focus, and flow. Some sections may be re-sequenced, and where necessary, later follow-ups may be inserted. Make sure you have the interviewee’s postal address for the actual magazine to be mailed out to.