Nakama APWT Japan
9-11 December 2026
Nakama APWT Japan will run from 9-11 December 2026 at Lakeland University Tokyo – we do hope you can join us. Nakama in translation means (inner circle/shared group) a fitting moniker for the atmosphere and philosophy of APWT events. Over three days and four nights participants from all over the world will gather for the kind of eclectic and immersive literary programming APWT has become famous for. Part festival, part conference, part retreat this is a literary experience like no other. You can take part in readings and panel discussions, absorb inspiring keynote addresses from international feature authors and participate in inspiring practice focused workshops. As is our usual style we will also be hosting dinners, cultural tours, mini-retreats and events in other fabulous venues and locations. In the neon city, our nighttime entertainment programming will be second to none. Book your place today!
Nakama Accommodation
Our official hotel will be The Gate Hotel Ryogoku by Hulic. This refined but competitively priced hotel is within walking distance of Lakeland University. You can enjoy high end facilities such as a gourmet on site restaurant, rooftop terrace bar, 24-hour reception, daily housekeeping and lovely views of the Sumida River. The best part – even the standard rooms here are above average sizes for Tokyo, with everything from twin rooms to suites available to suit your preference. We advise you to make your accommodation booking as soon as possible. You can access pay at the property and free cancellation options on Booking.com here or book via the hotel website.
Hakone APWT Writing Retreat
For those who are interested APWT will be running an optional three-day retreat in the scenic Hakone region of Japan just two hours out of Tokyo from 12-15 December. Join us for three blissful days as we decompress from the highs of Tokyo taking in luscious forest walks, hot springs, onsen bathing, readings and social gatherings. As this retreat will be largely self-directed there will be no charge to attend. All you have to do is book your stay – come for one day or all three. It’s up to you. Hakone is easily accessible by train. Our stay pick for the retreat is the Fujiya Hotel. One of the most famous hotels in Japan, this sprawling property blending western and Japanese architecture and craftsmanship, has a long and distinguished history and has been welcoming guests for over 100 years. The standard rooms are on par in terms of price with other offerings in the region and there are a variety of room options to choose from. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be enriched by a living monument of Japanese history. Book your room today!
Asia Pacific of the Mind
APWT and Joao Roque Literary Journal are proud to release Asia Pacific of the Mind – a special edition of the journal featuring stories, creative non-fiction and poetry from APWT members examining the theme. Historically the Asia Pacific region has been decimated by supposedly scientific, principally colonial concerns. From the exploits of Portuguese admiral Afonoso de Albuquerque who conquered Goa in India and Malacca in Malaysia in the early 16th century to Captain James Cook's famous voyage across the Asia Pacific over 250 years ago, the spread of European and British colonialism has always carried along with it deeply painful and racist governing ideologies. Hence the collision between Anglophone letters and Asian ways of imagining is a space we feel is contested, disruptive, rich and colourful. In the new millennium, APWT and Joao Roque seek to construct a more productive Asia-Pacific of the mind, one that speaks to these points of connection and rupture, partakes of stories and songs, and remakes colonialist history by creating new nodes of intersection that might remap shared experience. Read the full edition here: https://www.joaoroqueliteraryjournal.com
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We thank those universities currently assisting to sustain APWT: Griffith University and the University of Queensland.
We welcome additional Core Partners into this consortium. We seek to ensure the consortium becomes a truly international one to represent our many Asian members.
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