#Japan #Tokyo #Minecraft Cup #Digital Creativity #Education Edition

7th Minecraft Cup: Urban Development Finals Held

On February 15, 2026, the 7th Minecraft Cup’s Urban Development National Finals took place at the University of Tokyo’s Fukutake Hall. This renowned event, organized by the Minecraft Cup Executive Committee, invited children under the age of 18 to collaboratively engage in digital creation using the educational version of Minecraft.

The theme of this year's competition was "Protecting Humanity from Unprecedented Disasters: Urban Development with Resilience."

This year, a record total of 21,577 participants entered the contest. The competition featured two categories: the Building Category (for beginners and elementary school students) and the Urban Development Category (team-based), culminating in an overall record of 836 entries (490 in the Building Category and 346 in the Urban Development Category). After rigorous local qualifiers and regional tournaments, 28 teams from 14 blocks advanced to the National Finals, showcasing the creativity of 199 finalists comprised of elementary through high school students.

Participants either gathered in person or connected online to present their projects, detailing the ideas that fueled their work, the innovative elements they incorporated, and the dedication they displayed in the development process. A record audience of 485 individuals, including participants, officials, and spectators, were present to witness the children’s presentations. The event was live-streamed on the official YouTube channel, attracting a peak viewership of 274.

As the competition concluded, the winners of both the General Prize and special awards from event partners were announced. The award ceremony was a joyous occasion, filled with applause as young winners celebrated their achievements.

Overall Awards

Top Prizes

• - Elementary Category Winner: Ikaballoon from Tokyo
• - Middle/High School Category Winner: Omoide Higashiura from Aichi

Award Winners' Reactions

The winning participants expressed their gratitude and excitement. One winner stated, "Thank you for the Best Prize! I’ll continue enjoying Minecraft! Thanks to all my supporters!"

Comments from judges highlighted the children's remarkable ability to investigate and learn throughout their projects. They noted the impressive presentation skills exhibited, revealing insights from the preparation process. The judges appreciated how participants eagerly showcased their innovative efforts, enhancing their overall work.

Special Awards

In addition to general prizes, several special awards were awarded, recognizing notable accomplishments in various areas such as:

• - Best representation of a ‘happy living space’ (Sumitomo Realty)
• - Innovative methods for CO2-free energy production (Kansai Electric Power)
• - Utilizing historical communication methods for safe urban development (TBS Holdings)
• - Envisioning a future complete with enjoyable mobility systems (Kawasaki Heavy Industries)
• - Outstanding teamwork and project development through individual roles (Benesse Corporation)
• - Impressive and marketable design ideas (DNP)
• - Broadening potential through educational version of Minecraft (Microsoft)
• - Engaging and highly developed project enjoyment (Impress, Kids and IT)
• - Effective expression of serious challenges through Minecraft play (Poplar)

Encouragement Awards

Recognizing promising projects, the Encouragement Awards showcased hopeful futures for participants.

The finalists’ creativity was nurtured through the Minecraft Cup, an initiative aiming to bridge disparities in digital education across Japan—encouraging children to explore programming and digital creation. This program has revealed that participants have shown improved flexibility in thinking and diverse ideas, skills essential in today’s fast-changing world.

The archived live stream of the finals and the list of all submitted works can be accessed via the official YouTube channel and the Minecraft Cup website.

Conclusion

The Minecraft Cup is a national platform that helps foster creativity through digital tools for younger generations. We encourage everyone to stay tuned for future editions and witness the incredible potential of our youth!

For additional details about Minecraft’s educational impact, visit the Minecraft Cup Official Site.

Event Coordinators:
Coalition of Digital Production, ICT CONNECT 21.