#Japan #Tokyo #elementary school #Akari Day #Poster Contest

Calling All Talented Young Artists!

On October 21, we celebrate "Akari Day," a special occasion that marks the anniversary of Thomas Edison's invention of the practical electric bulb in 1879. To commemorate this important day, the Akari Day Committee, led by Tomoaki Kakuura, the Secretary-General of the Japan Lighting Manufacturers Association, is launching the 25th Annual National Elementary School Poster Contest.

This year's theme is "The Future of Light, Dream Lights". We invite elementary school students to express their imagination by illustrating what they believe the lighting of the future could look like. Imagine a light that brings joy to everyone, a light that is beneficial for the Earth, and a light that puts smiles on people's faces. What innovative and enjoyable lighting concepts do you envision?

The aim of Akari Day is to bring attention to the importance of light in our daily lives and to inspire a better understanding of how it affects our health, safety, disaster prevention, and energy conservation. This contest is an exciting opportunity for participants to engage with these themes creatively, advocating for a richer, more energy-efficient society through the effective use of light.

Contest Details

• - Eligibility: Open to elementary school students only.
• - Poster Sizes: Posters can be created in B4 (36.4cm x 25.7cm), A4 (29.7cm x 21.0cm), or 8-cut watercolor paper sizes (38.2cm x 27.1cm). Please ensure that the paper is positioned vertically (portrait orientation).
• - Materials: Participants are free to use crayons, markers, watercolor paints, poster colors, and other creative mediums.
• - Submission Period: From July 1, 2023, (Tuesday) to September 8, 2023, (Monday) [Must be received by this date].

Submission Guidelines

All posters must clearly include the phrase, "October 21 is Akari Day". Any other text added is welcomed, but please ensure that the title is formatted correctly. Incorrect scripts may lead to disqualification, so double-check!

To participate, contributors must attach a form on the backside of their artwork containing their postal code, address, name (with furigana), phone number, and school name (or name of their art class) along with their grade level. Individual entries as well as group submissions from classes or schools are encouraged.

Awards

• - Grand Prize: 1 winner will receive a gift card worth ¥50,000.
• - Excellence Awards: 10 winners, each receiving a gift card worth ¥10,000, with 1 special award among them.
• - Recognition Awards: 30 entries will receive commemorative prizes. All participants will receive participation awards.

Announcement & Exhibition

Results will be announced on October 1, 2023, on the Akari Day website. An awards ceremony is scheduled for October 18, 2023, at Tokyo Skytree East Tower, and winning entries will be showcased on the 5th floor of Tokyo Skytree during October. Please note that the conditions may change.

Judging Panel

The contest will be judged by Nobuyuki Yamazaki, committee head, and other esteemed members of the Akari Day Committee. Yamazaki is a professor at the Graduate School of Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts.

Important Note

Entries that are selected will not be returned, but participants will be notified if their entry has been chosen for an award. The copyright of winning submissions will be held by the organizers, with the grand prize artwork being featured in next year’s Akari Day poster campaign.

For more information, visit Akari Day.

Contact Information

For any queries regarding the contest, please reach out to:
Akari Day Poster Contest Office,
Phone: 03-6803-0501,
Fax: 03-6803-0064,
Email: [email protected]

We look forward to your enthusiastic entries and hope this contest inspires everyone to reflect on how we can use lighting to foster a brighter future!