The 8th Kitaku Children's Programming Contest Showcases Innovative Projects by Local Students

The 8th Kitaku Children's Programming Contest

On January 24 and 25, 2026, the NPO Programming Education Institute held the 8th Kitaku Children's Programming Contest at the Akabane Cultural Center. This event not only showcased the creative works of local young programmers but also celebrated their efforts during an awarding ceremony held on January 25.

Contest Overview

The annual contest aims to inspire elementary and middle school students residing or studying in Kitaku to learn programming. Initiated in 2018, it has become a platform for students to present the成果 of their programming studies while fostering their motivation in learning new skills.

During this year's event, 31 projects were submitted, and the attendees were keen to see the awarded works. The ceremony culminated in recognizing the outstanding projects which were distributed among Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, along with several special commendations.

Awards Given

- Gold Award (最優秀金賞)
- Silver Award (優秀銀賞)
- Bronze Award (優秀銅賞)
- Excellence Awards (優秀賞): 5 projects
- Merit Awards (準優秀賞): 5 projects
- Judge’s Prize (審査員賞): 5 projects

Featured Projects

[1;33mGold Award Winning Project: JR Line Conductor Simulator[0m

Description by the creator: This game offers players an experience as a train conductor. Participants can open and close train doors and trigger a departure melody, designed to be original due to copyright regulations. The creator focused on the detailed movement of the train doors and sounds that vary by train type.

[1;33mSilver Award Winning Project: Delivery and Collection Robot[0m

Creator's Insight: This robot delivers items when a user claps, indicating that the lights turn green. Upon reaching the recipient, the light turns red, and the robot halts. By pressing the “receive” button, the items are returned.