An exhibition opportunity for everyone who draws with Art Crayons. "100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition 2026" accepting submissions from July 8 (Wed)

Astrum Inc. (President: Junichi Ishigaki, Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) will begin accepting submissions for "100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition 2026," an exhibition for everyone who draws with Art Crayons, from July 8, 2026 (Wed). Furthermore, an exhibition of 100 selected works will be held at Hibiya OKUROJI from November 2026.

"100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition" is an exhibition held as a venue for displaying works for everyone who draws with Art Crayons. We aim to widely promote the diverse expressive possibilities of Art Crayons and provide a place to share the joy of drawing and connect with peers. Regardless of age, nationality, experience, genre, or theme, anyone who has the desire to "draw" can apply, with no limit to the number of submissions per person. In the first year of the event, 2025, the total number of submissions exceeded 2,300.

During the exhibition period, a networking and appreciation event was held for the 100 selected artists, becoming a place where participants from all over the country gathered and new connections were formed through their artwork.

In its second year, this year, we will begin accepting submissions from July 8, 2026 (Wed). 100 works will be selected from the submitted pieces in late October and will be exhibited at Tokyo's Hibiya OKUROJI, which sees approximately 10,000 visitors daily, from November 22, 2026 (Sun) to December 2, 2026 (Wed). All submitted works can be viewed on the website and enjoyed as an "Online Exhibition."

Exhibition Venue■

In this exhibition, 100 works will be selected from the submitted pieces and displayed at Hibiya OKUROJI from November to December 2026.

Exhibition Period: November 22, 2026 (Sun) - December 2, 2026 (Wed)

Venue: Hibiya OKUROJI (1-7-1 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

Exhibition Image (Scene from last year's 2025 event)

Hibiya OKUROJI (1-7-1 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

A sophisticated adult passageway hidden in the depths of Hibiya. A 300m under-track space where deep passions gather, utilizing the brick arches born in the Meiji era. It is a place brimming with a sense of excitement, deep dedication, and a hidden charm of 100 years of history, making sophisticated adults want to search for something. Hibiya OKUROJI Official Page: http://www.jrtk.jp/hibiya-okuroji/

"100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition 2026" Submission Guidelines■

This exhibition is for works created using Art Crayons.

"100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition" Website: https://pentel-art-crayon.com

<Eligibility>

Eligibility: Open to all (age, gender, occupation, nationality)

Group applications: Not permitted

Participation fee: Free

<Application Conditions>

There is no limit to the number of works you can submit. If submitting multiple works, please enter each work individually.

Pentel's Art Crayons must be used for creation. Other art materials can be used in combination.

Works selected for the top 100 will be exhibited at "Hibiya OKUROJI," so please keep your artwork until the results are announced in late October.

Individuals under 18 years of age must obtain parental consent to apply.

<Schedule>

Submission Period: July 8, 2026 (Wed) - October 5, 2026 (Mon) 23:59

Results Announcement: Late October 2026

Exhibition Period: November 22, 2026 (Sun) - December 2, 2026 (Wed)

<Work Specifications>

Materials Used: Pentel Art Crayons (other materials may be used in combination)

Theme: Free

Must be unpublished works (works previously published on social media or in solo exhibitions are acceptable; works submitted to or exhibited in public exhibitions or competitions are not eligible)

<Size and Specifications>

Size: Within 540 x 380mm

Depth/Thickness: Within 300mm

Weight: Within 5kg

Materials: Free (drawing paper, board, canvas, etc.)

Orientation: Free

<How to Apply>

Please apply for your work from the "Apply Here" button on the "100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition" website.

"100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition" Website: https://pentel-art-crayon.com

About the Judging■

All submitted works will be judged, and 100 will be selected. The selected works will be exhibited at "Hibiya OKUROJI." From these, 10 works will be selected by the judges.

*All submitted works will also be displayed on the website as an online exhibition.

*Results will be announced on the website around late October, and selected artists will be contacted individually.

<For those selected for the top 100> *Excluding the 10 Jury Prize winners

- Exhibition of artwork at the venue

- Invitation to the networking/appreciation event and preview (scheduled to be held in Tokyo on November 21, 2026 (Sat))

<For Jury Prize winners>

- Exhibition of artwork at the venue

- Invitation to the networking/appreciation event and preview (scheduled to be held in Tokyo on November 21, 2026 (Sat))

- Prize money of 100,000 yen

<Judges>

The judges will include Harumichi Shibasaki, co-developer of Art Crayons; Goro Yamada, a connoisseur of art; and Junichi Ishigaki, President of Astrum Inc.

Harumichi Shibasaki

Watercolor artist, painting instructor, art YouTuber.

Affectionately known as "Grandpa Teacher," he is the co-developer of ART CRAYON. In 2017, he launched "Watercolor by Shibasaki" on YouTube. The channel has 2.14 million subscribers (as of July 2026), with 10% of viewers being from overseas.

YouTube Channel "Watercolor by Shibasaki"

https://www.youtube.com/c/WatercolorbyShibasaki

A message from Harumichi Shibasaki

With the addition of a blender that expands expression and an evolved color range of 25 colors, Art Crayons now allow for deeper and freer creations. Harnessing this new potential, please express your "excitement" freely. I am truly looking forward to encountering works that showcase everyone's unique talents this year.

Goro Yamada

Critic. Born December 5, 1958, in Tokyo. After graduating from Sophia University's Faculty of Liberal Arts, he joined Kodansha, where he served as editor-in-chief of "Hot-Dog PRESS" before going independent in 2004. He continues to write and lecture on art, clocks, and urban development, and appears on TV programs such as "Ad-Machi" (TV Tokyo). His YouTube channel "Goro Yamada's Adult Education Course" has 780,000 subscribers (as of July 2026). His books include "You'll Understand It Perfectly! Impressionism" (Diamond-sha), "A History of Western Art in the Dark" (10 volumes, Sogen-sha), and "The Complete Guide to Mechanical Watches" (Kodansha).

YouTube Channel "Goro Yamada's Adult Education Course"

https://www.youtube.com/@art-yamadagoro

A message from Goro Yamada

Art Crayons enable a wider range of expressions that go beyond the conventional understanding of crayons. Last year, I was amazed by the number of works that showcased free-thinking and further expanded their possibilities. I expect to encounter even more works filled with freedom and the joy of drawing this year.

Junichi Ishigaki, President of Astrum Inc.

President of Astrum Inc.

Joined Pentel (now Astrum Inc.) in 1986. After experiences at Pentel Germany and Pentel Shanghai, he became an executive officer in 2014 and a director in 2022. Assumed his current position in June 2025.

A message from Junichi Ishigaki

"100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition" is an exhibition open to anyone who wishes to "draw" with Pentel's Art Crayons, regardless of age, nationality, or skill level. I look forward to seeing works filled with everyone's emotions again this year.

"100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition 2026" Commemorative! Art Crayon 8-Color Set Present Campaign■

To commemorate the second holding of the "100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition," we are holding a limited quantity present campaign for Art Crayons. Through this campaign, we aim to encourage people to try Art Crayons and provide an opportunity for newcomers to submit their works to the "100 Art Crayon Paintings Exhibition."

<Campaign Overview>

- Campaign Period: July 8, 2026 (Wed) - July 31, 2026 (Fri) 23:59

*First-come, first-served basis; ends when the planned quantity is reached.

- Prize Contents: Art Crayon 8-Color Set (1), A4 Kent paper (1 sheet), A4 Drawing paper (1 sheet)

- Winner Announcement: Winners will be notified by shipment.

- How to Apply: Please apply from the present campaign page.

- Art Crayon 8-Color Set Present Campaign Page: https://pentel-art-crayon.com/news/20260708_2

Features of ART CRAYON■

Art Crayons are drawing materials developed with the concept of "restoring the richness of adults drawing freely," allowing users to create paintings with an oil-painting-like touch using the ease of crayons. Co-developed with Harumichi Shibasaki, a painter and art YouTuber with 2.14 million subscribers (*), these crayons feature a soft texture that allows for free control of line width with brush pressure, and enable vibrant colors that can be mixed and layered, offering a wide range of expressive possibilities.

(* As of July 2026)

Mixable and layerable, with oil-painting-like expressiveness

Vibrant colors utilizing proprietary technology

Comfortable touch when drawing or coloring

Minimal smudging, designed to keep surroundings clean

Product Page: https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/artmaterials/artcrayon/

About "Pentel"■

Pentel is a brand of writing instruments and art supplies that offers products such as the gel ink ballpoint pen "EnerGel," the mechanical pencil "Orenz," the water-based pen "Sign Pen," the brush pen "Pentel Brush," and the art material "Pentel Crayon" in over 120 countries and regions worldwide.

Official Website: https://www.pentel.co.jp/

Inquiries Regarding Products■

Astrum Inc. Customer Service Center (Toll-free) 0120-12-8133