#Japan #Tokyo #Programming #Zero One #Kids Coding

Exciting Showdown in the Zero One Grand Slam 2025 Final

The stage is set for Japan's prestigious coding competition, Zero One Grand Slam 2025, where the best young programmers will showcase their skills. This year’s final will take place on December 7, 2025, at the Sunshine City Fountain Square in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Organized by Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions and powered by the Junior Programming Promotion Organization, the event has steadily gained momentum, with more than 5,000 elementary school students participating across the country.

Path to the Finals

The competition began in August 2025, involving online preliminary rounds and exciting face-offs in both the Kanto and Kansai regions. After an intense series of confrontations, only 12 young coders have emerged victorious, ready to battle for the title of Japan’s top elementary school programmer.

This year saw 176 contestants compete in two main categories during the second round: Scratch and Robotics. Participants took part in rigorous challenges such as debugging programming errors in the Debug Challenge and developing themed games in the Zero Gra Hackathon within a strict 10-minute window. The demand for precision and individual programming prowess made these rounds thrilling to watch.

The Robot Challenge featured participants utilizing self-assembled robots to target specific scoring areas on the field. Contestants had a choice of three different robot types: Artec Robo, KOOV, and SPIKE Prime, highlighting the various design techniques and strategies as pivotal elements of the competition.

Learning and Inspiration

The Kanto venue, hosted at Yamaha Motor Co,. Ltd.'s Co-Creation Space Rije Lab, not only allowed for competitive spirit but also offered participants a chance to tour the facility and engage with engineers. This interaction provided invaluable insights for the young participants on how programming could translate into future careers.

The Final Battle

The grand finale will feature a unique team format with each team consisting of three members. The competitors will engage in two original programming contests that have been developed to further elevate the competitive experience.

Features of the Final Round

1. Scramble Battle (Robotics Event): This exhilarating challenge, which was a highlight of the previous year's finals, involves teams using their designed robots to control and gain points by knocking down targets. Each match will be dynamic, pitting teams against one another in a strategic battlefield.
2. Zero Gra Hackathon (Game Development): This event will see teams of three coding a game collaboratively. Each member will contribute by taking turns for a limited time, transforming a concept into a complete game using designated sprites announced on the day of the event. Teams will be challenged to express creativity and teamwork within a restricted framework, cultivating innovative approaches to game design.

Celebrating Young Talent

The competition has also appointed special judge Madoka Chiyoda, a cloud developer advocate at Microsoft, known affectionately as "Chomado". She will support and inspire the contestants with her experience in the tech industry. Her encouragement highlights the importance of programming skills in an evolving digital landscape.

Event Details

The Zero One Grand Slam Final will take place at 12:30 PM on December 7, 2025. Admission is free, though some area restrictions may apply during peak times. Participants will also be featured live via the official YouTube channel, enabling real-time viewing for fans nationwide.

Conclusion

As we count down to the final showdown, expect to see not only rigorous competition but also the bright future of programming development in Japan unfold before our eyes. Ensure to tune in and support these talented young programmers as they showcase their creativity and skills!

For further updates, follow the official Zero One Grand Slam website and Twitter page for the latest news and announcements.