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Exciting Money Essay Contest for Students in Japan

The Financial Literacy Education Promotion Organization (J-FLEC) is thrilled to announce the launch of its 59th Annual Money Essay Contest for junior high school students and the 24th Financial and Economic Thought Essay Contest for high school students. With the evolving landscape of finance and economics, particularly due to the rise of cashless payment systems and internet transactions, there is a critical need for young individuals to cultivate their financial literacy. This initiative aims to foster economic independence and provide them with the essential knowledge and decision-making skills related to money management.

Contest Overview

These contests provide a platform for students to think deeply about how money interacts with their lives and society at large. By exploring themes related to 'money' and 'economics', participants are encouraged to deepen their interest in financial matters and develop a sound understanding of values related to money.

In the 2025 fiscal year, an impressive number of submissions were recorded: 4,715 entries in the junior high school category and 2,739 in the high school category.

59th Money Essay Contest for Junior High School Students

Eligibility: Junior high school students
Theme: Any topic related to 'money' is welcome. Below are some suggested themes to spark ideas, but feel free to choose any subject that interests you:
1. The relationship between my future dreams and money
2. My family’s money rules and promises
3. What does it mean to use money wisely?
4. Money seen through news

Awards:

• - Special Prize: 5 winners (Certificate and a bookstore voucher worth 40,000 yen)
• - Minister of Finance Award / Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award / Governor of the Bank of Japan Award / PTA National Council President's Award / J-FLEC Chairman's Award
• - Excellent Work: 5 winners (Certificate and a bookstore voucher worth 20,000 yen)
• - Honorable Mention: 10 winners (Certificate and a bookstore voucher worth 3,000 yen)
• - School Award (for schools of the Special Prize winners): 5 schools (Certificate and a bookstore voucher worth 10,000 yen)
• - Word Count: 1,200 to 2,000 words
• - Deadline: September 15, 2026 (must be postmarked by this date)
• - Announcement: Mid-December on the organizer's website.

24th Financial and Economic Thought Essay Contest for High School Students

Eligibility: High school students, students in secondary education (upper grades), technical college students (up to the third year), and students in vocational schools.
Theme: Any topic related to 'finance and economics'. Express your opinions or assertions in an essay format. Here are some proposed themes for consideration, but you are welcome to choose from any idea:
1. How I think about utilizing money actively to achieve my dreams
2. My proposal for solving local issues through entrepreneurship
3. Social investment perspectives from a high school student's view
4. Considering the value of goods and our responsibility through societal changes
5. The impact of cashless transactions on our lives
6. Methods to avoid money-related troubles in a digital society

Awards:

• - Special Prize: 5 winners (Certificate and a scholarship worth 50,000 yen)
• - Minister of Finance Award / Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award / Governor of the Bank of Japan Award / Chairperson of the National Social Studies Education Research Association Award / J-FLEC Chairman's Award
• - Excellent Work: 5 winners (Certificate and a scholarship worth 30,000 yen)
• - Honorable Mention: 10 winners (Certificate and a bookstore voucher worth 6,000 yen)
• - School Award (for schools of the Special Prize winners): 5 schools (Certificate and a bookstore voucher worth 10,000 yen)
• - Word Count: 1,600 to 3,200 words
• - Deadline: September 15, 2026 (must be postmarked by this date)
• - Announcement: Mid-December on the organizer's website.

How to Enter

For more detailed information about the J-FLEC contests and to find out about past award-winning pieces, please visit the J-FLEC contest entry website.

J-FLEC, the Financial Literacy Education Promotion Organization, is a certified entity supervised by the Financial Services Agency, dedicated to broadly disseminating financial literacy education to the public.

Encourage students to take part in this fantastic opportunity that nurtures critical thinking about finance and equips them for future success!