#Japan #children's safety #Bunkyo, Tokyo #picture book award #Sony Assurance

The Children's Safety Picture Book Award Sponsored by Sony Assurance

Exciting news for aspiring authors and illustrators! The Children's Safety Picture Book Award Sponsored by Sony Assurance has been officially announced and is set to commence on August 3, 2026. This competition is aimed at creating original picture books focused on children's safety, covering themes such as traffic safety, disaster prevention, and crime prevention.

The grand prize winner will receive a substantial cash prize of 1 million yen along with the opportunity for their work to be published and distributed in bookstores. With contributions from prominent organizations, including Sony Assurance, this contest not only promotes creativity but also raises awareness about crucial safety topics relevant to children aged 4 to 8.

Submission Guidelines

Theme

The competition is specifically looking for picture stories that relate to children's everyday safety. Entries can cover a diverse range of subjects as long as they evoke themes associated with safety in children's lives.

Submission Period

• - Start Date: August 3, 2026
• - Deadline: November 30, 2026

Entries can be submitted online via the YOMO website until 11:59 PM on November 30, 2026. For those opting to submit their work via post, entries must be postmarked by the deadline.

Eligibility

There are no specific qualifications needed to apply, making the competition accessible to everyone. Entries must be original works that have not been published previously, and each author is allowed to submit one piece only, although co-authorship is accepted. Please note that submissions that consist solely of text are not permitted.

How to Enter

To participate, creators must adhere to the YOMO submission guidelines. During the submission process, applicants should select the Children's Safety Picture Book Award category to ensure their work is properly classified for review. All entries meeting YOMO's public quality standards will be published and sold on the YOMO platform.

Entry Fee

Participation in this contest is free, allowing more creators to showcase their talent without financial constraints.

Awards

The contest will award the following:

• - Grand Prize: 1 winner will receive 1 million yen and publication rights.
• - Excellence Award: 1 winner will get 300,000 yen.
• - Sony Assurance Award: 1 winner will earn 50,000 yen.

Judging Panel

The jury will comprise notable figures in the literature and art community, including:

• - Tomohiko Fujimoto, children's book author
• - Kenta Otsuka, children's literature writer
• - Yume Okuhara, picture book creator
• - Representatives from Nicomo and Sony Assurance.

Important Notes

Entrants should be aware that any work not meeting YOMO's regulations will not be eligible for consideration. Once submitted, pieces cannot be altered. Questions about selection criteria or processes will not be entertained. Additionally, any costs related to the shipping of works or online access fees are the responsibility of the applicant.

After the selection results are announced in late February 2027, any issues arising that could affect award status could result in withdrawal of prizes. Also, should authors wish to incorporate their winning works into promotional materials for the sponsoring company, consent may be required.

For more details, please visit the official contest page here.

Conclusion

This award presents a significant opportunity for writers and illustrators to contribute to children's safety narratives while being recognized for their creativity. Mark your calendars for the commencing date of August 3, 2026, and prepare to share your stories that promote safety in children's lives. We can't wait to see the impactful works that emerge from this initiative!