High School Policy Contest Winners Meet Prime Minister on December 25, 2025

Students from Top High School Teams Visit Prime Minister

On December 25, 2025, students from two high schools, Gifu Prefectural Gifu High School and Osaka Prefectural OSAKA High School, had a significant audience with Prime Minister Sanae Takagi. These students were recognized as the top teams in the Third National High School Policy Contest, held from April to September earlier this year. The visit was a momentous occasion, showcasing the talents and hard work of young leaders in Japan.

The high school students who participated in the visit included four from Gifu High School, located in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, and three from Osaka High School, situated in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. Their discussion with Prime Minister Takagi revolved around their innovative policy proposals. The Prime Minister responded warmly, expressing her support for their realistic policy suggestions and encouraging them to continue their activism.

About the National High School Policy Contest

The National High School Policy Contest, hosted by the Japan Junior Chamber (JJC), is designed to foster political interest among the youth and create an environment for discussions about social issues. The contest provides high school students across Japan with the opportunity to research societal problems, devise policies, and deliver them to government officials. The JJC initiated this event in 2023 to enhance political awareness among the youth.

This year's contest saw an overwhelming response, with 352 teams from 33 prefectures participating. The entries underwent a rigorous selection process, including document reviews, regional qualifiers, and an online voting system. Two standout teams emerged as the best: the Gifu High School Agribusiness Group with their project on sustainable digital policies and the OSAKA High School team named Re.Truther, focusing on societal impacts of misinformation during disasters.