#Japan #Tokyo #Advertising Awards #Student Competition #AC Japan

22nd AC Japan Advertising Student Awards Winners Announced

The winners of the 22nd AC Japan Advertising Student Awards were announced by the public interest organization, AC Japan, led by Chairman Nobuhiro Torii. The award ceremony is scheduled for March 25th at Scramble Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo.

The AC Japan Advertising Student Awards aim to raise awareness and understanding of public advertising among students, by recognizing their creative works on themes related to social interests. This year marks the 22nd iteration of the awards, which include two categories: the TV commercial division and the newspaper advertisement division. The TV commercial division received 302 entries from 45 participating schools, while the newspaper advertisement division attracted 791 submissions from 39 institutions.

Judging criteria included whether the work effectively highlighted public issues, captured audience interest, and showcased originality and student perspectives.

In the TV commercial division, the Grand Prize was awarded to "Before Seasonal Words Become Obsolete" produced by Anna Miyoshi from Okayama Prefectural University. The theme of this entry focuses on global warming and contrasts historical perspectives with contemporary climate issues. It beautifully illustrates how traditional seasonal emotions are at risk of being lost due to rising temperatures in today's world.

The judges praised the quality of expressions and conveyed messages effectively, noting that it exuded a level of sophistication rarely seen in student works.

The Runner-Up for the TV commercial division, titled "Rainy Day Quest," was produced by Tomoka Yamaguchi from Nihon University, highlighting the importance of manners in public spaces, particularly related to carrying umbrellas on staircases.

In the newspaper advertisement division, the Grand Prize was awarded to “That’s Been Cut Out,” by Momoko Sasai from Okayama Prefectural University, addressing media literacy. This piece emphasizes how information can be manipulated due to selective editing, urging viewers to recognize the implications of such edits in media consumption.

This entry also impressed judges with its sharp visuals and clear messaging that resonates across generations.

The Runner-Up of this division was "Inconvenient Smartphone Use in Bathrooms," created by Ai Suzuki from Nagaoka Institute of Design, tackling the rising issue of excessive smartphone use in public restrooms.

Among other accolades in both divisions, there were several special awards and recognitions, highlighting the talents of aspiring advertising professionals.

Jury's Special Prize

Some noteworthy special prize winners in the TV commercial division included:
"Seeing Smiles After Meeting" - by Yui Murata (Musashi University) on communication.
"Famous People's Quotes" - by Saho Ota (Musashino Art University) focusing on information verification.

In the newspaper advertisement division, special mentions were given to:
* "The One Who Exists Is Invisible" - by Rika Ishii (Obirin University) on media literacy.

In total, both divisions awarded several excellent honors and encouragement awards, celebrating innovation and creativity in public advertising.

About AC Japan

Founded in 1971 as the Kansai Public Advertising Organization, AC Japan transitioned to a public interest corporation in 2009, aiming to contribute to societal welfare by promoting beneficial messages about public manners and environmental issues through various advertising formats. With around 1,000 member companies contributing financially, AC Japan has become recognized for its public interest activities and became a public interest incorporated association in 2011.