#Japan #AI Innovations #Tokyo #Tokyo App #Student Competition

Tokyo's Exciting Mobile App Contest for Students

In an effort to harness the creativity of young minds and encourage the use of digital technologies like AI, the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education is hosting a Mobile App Contest targeted specifically at junior and senior high school students in Tokyo. This initiative is aligned with the growing demand for digital skillsets in various fields of society, aiming to inspire students to engage in programming and application development.

Campaign Overview

The contest is part of a broader campaign called Let's Create Apps Together!, which includes several phases:
1. Workshops to learn the basics of app development.
2. Hackathons where participants can experience group app development.
3. The final phase, the Mobile App Contest, calls for submissions of apps that utilize generative AI and other technologies.

The contest invites students, either individually or as teams, to bring their creative ideas to life under the theme: “Creating Our Handy Apps with Inspiration!” Participants are encouraged to develop an app that enhances convenience in daily life, focusing not just on efficiency but on creating unprecedented experiences and values.

Contest Details

Eligibility

The competition is open to students from any public or private junior or senior high schools in Tokyo. Whether entering as a single individual or as part of a team, students are encouraged to showcase their innovative solutions.

Submission Requirements

To participate, the developed app must meet the following conditions:

• - Must be created by the applicant(s) after April 2025.
• - Development languages allowed include:

- Power Apps
- Swift
- React Native (for Android)
- Flutter (for Android)
- Kotlin or Java

• - Web apps are also accepted, but participants must provide hosting if a web server is required for app operation.

The following documents must be submitted:
1. Project Proposal (in the specified format available on the contest website)
2. A three-minute presentation video
3. The app submission including source code and a readme.txt file.

The readme.txt must outline the app name, development environment, build instructions, and any other relevant information.

Timeline

• - Submission Period: From August 28, 2025, to November 21, 2025.
• - Evaluation and Results: Evaluations will occur in two rounds: first and final. The initial results will be communicated to participants in early January 2026, while the final results, including various awards, will be announced at the award ceremony.
• - Award Ceremony: Scheduled for January 18, 2026, at Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB).

Awards

Winners will be recognized in various categories, including the Grand Prize, Category Awards, and Judges' Special Awards. The initial round will assess the feasibility, usability, and overall content of the submitted proposals and apps. The final round will involve a holistic evaluation, including the presentation of proposed solutions.

Previous Winners

Last year's contest showcased remarkable projects like Flulove, an app that records and shares bathing habits through shower sounds, aiming to make bathing a more enjoyable experience, and Nanoha, a digital memorization application that replaces red memory sheets with AI support. Such innovations demonstrate the potential of young creators and their vision for enhancing everyday life.

Added Incentives: Tokyo Points

In addition to the recognition received, participants in the contest will also earn Tokyo Points. These points can be accumulated via the Tokyo App, which connects residents with governmental resources and enhances their daily lives while ensuring safety during emergencies. Participants submitting an app in line with the contest theme will earn 500 points, redeemable for everyday purchases. However, the distribution of points will occur in bulk following the submission period, and will be allocated to one representative per team if applicable.

For detailed contest information, the application process, and participation specifics, visit the official contest site: Mobile App Contest 2025.

Engage with this unique opportunity to blend creativity and technology, and see how your ideas can shape the future!