Announcing the Kaikoku AI Video Commercial Contest with a Total Prize of ¥1 Million

Kaikoku AI Video Commercial Contest

The highly anticipated Kaikoku AI Video Commercial Contest is set to kick off on December 29, 2025. Hosted by BLAM Inc., based in Shinagawa, Tokyo, this contest will utilize the voice of stage artist and talent Umikawa Saka alongside cutting-edge AI technology to create 15-second commercials. With a total prize pool of ¥1 million, this competition aims to highlight the creativity and skill of emerging professions such as AI directors and creators.

Background: Light on the People Behind AI

Criticism surrounding AI-generated content is on the rise, with many declaring it to be soulless or uncomfortable. However, brands like Coca-Cola and GUESS are actively embracing AI in their advertising campaigns. This contest aims to shed light on the people behind these technologies - AI video creators and directors, whose innovative skills in prompt design, tool combination, editing, and storytelling are often overlooked.

The contest represents an opportunity for these emerging professionals to receive the recognition they deserve while exploring the question, "Can AI evoke human emotions?"

Contest Details

Contest Name

The Kaikoku AI Video Commercial Contest

Theme

"Can AI make people feel?"

Requirements

Participants are tasked to create a 15-second video commercial that conveys the allure of the Kaikoku service using voice dubbing, AI, and imagination.

Prize Pool

A total of ¥1 million will be distributed among winners in various categories.

Submission Period

From December 29, 2025 to January 31, 2026 at 23:59.

Announcement Date

Winners will be announced in mid-February 2026.

Eligibility

Open to all ages and nationalities, both professional and amateur creators can submit up to three works each.

AI Tools Allowed

Participants may utilize AI tools such as Runway, Pika Labs, Kling AI for video, and Midjourney, DALL-E for image creation, among others.

Special Website

More details can be found on the contest's special site: Kaikoku AI Contest

Hashtags

Engage with us on social media using: #KaikokuAICMContest #CanAIevokeFeelings

Awards and Prizes

- Grand Prize: ¥600,000 and the possibility of advertising on television or taxis.
- Excellence Award: ¥200,000 for high-rated entries.
- Umikawa Saka Award: ¥100,000.
- BLAM Award: ¥50,000.
- AI FREAK Award: ¥50,000.

Key Features of the Contest

1. No Rights Concerns with Official Material: Participants will have access to Umikawa's dubbing voice (select one from two options) and the official Kaikoku logo pack, all cleared for rights.
2. Professional Judges: Decisions for the grand prize and excellence awards will be made by marketers and business operators from over 30 companies that utilize the Kaikoku platform, providing a practical perspective in evaluating the entries.
3. Portfolio Value: The winning videos will be broadcasted on television or taxis, offering significant visibility and acting as a credible record of achievement for AI directors and digital marketers.

Judging Criteria

1. Appeal (30 Points): How attractively is the concept of utilizing freelance talent through Kaikoku conveyed?
2. Creativity (30 Points): Is there original use of AI technology and novel expressions?
3. Execution Quality (20 Points): The quality of video and audio production, including editing skills.
4. Buzz Factor (20 Points): Likelihood of the commercial being shared on social media and capturing public attention.

Judges

The jury will include:

- Marketers from Kaikoku and BLAM's operations team.
- Umikawa Saka (stage artist and talent).
- AI FREAK, the AI creative director.

How to Enter

1. Download materials from the special site.
2. Use AI tools to create your 15-second commercial.
3. Submit through the special site (video file or YouTube link).

For further details, please consult the special website.

Comment from the Company

Sugiyuki Yu, CEO of BLAM Inc.:
"There are always people behind AI. We wanted to create a platform where digital marketers, AI directors, and creators can be appreciated for their skills and originality. Together, I hope we can answer the question, ‘Can AI evoke human emotions?’ and see these works resonate on business levels, viewed by thousands. This is not just a contest, but a significant challenge to showcase the value of new professions. Let's create visuals that the world has never seen before!"

About Kaikoku

Kaikoku is Japan's largest specialized matching service for marketing freelancers, boasting a network of more than 13,000 marketing professionals and over 2,500 successful projects.
For more information, visit: Kaikoku.

About BLAM Inc.

BLAM Inc. operates Japan's largest marketing-oriented freelance matching service, Kaikoku, enabling the recruitment of top marketing talent with ease, and offers a unique PjTO Marketing approach to tackle corporate marketing challenges in a structured manner.

- Company Name: BLAM Inc. (Website)
- Headquarters: 141-0031, 7-7-7 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa, Tokyo, SG Square Building 8F
- Founder: Sugiyuki Yu, CEO
- Established: April 2, 2015