Dazai Osamu Prize

The Dazai Osamu Prize (太宰治賞) is a Japanese literary prize named for novelist Dazai Osamu (1909–1948). The prize was established in 1965 by the Chikuma Shobō publishing company, discontinued in 1978, and resumed again in 1999 with co-sponsorship of the Mitaka, Tokyo municipal government. It is awarded annually to an outstanding, previously unpublished short story by an unrecognized author; the winner receives a commemorative gift and a cash award of 1 million yen.

From the Wikipedia article “Dazai Osamu Prize”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Check the official rules of the Dazai Osamu Prize for the current eligibility window, accepted formats, residency or language requirements and any entry fee. For most established prizes the publisher submits on the author's behalf, often with a limit on entries per imprint.

If you are self-published, look for an explicit statement that independently published books are accepted, and budget for entry fees and copies for judges.