First-Ever "Space Koshien Rocket Division 2026 Fukuoka Tournament" Launched in Fukuoka Prefecture. Preliminary Workshops to be Held in 4 Regions for Junior High, High School, and Technical College Students

Kyushu Mirai Kyoso General Incorporated Association (Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Representative Director: Shunsaku Uemura), along with regional co-creation partners including Kurume City, will hold the "Space Koshien Rocket Division 2026 Fukuoka Tournament" for junior high school, high school, and technical college students in Fukuoka Prefecture and neighboring prefectures on November 14, 2026, at Kurume National College of Technology. This marks the first time the tournament will be held in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Prior to the tournament, preliminary workshops will be conducted in four regions: Kitakyushu City, Iizuka City, Fukuoka City, and Kurume City, from July to August 2026. The workshops will cover the basics through the construction and launch of A-type model rockets, as well as design lectures using the free design simulation software "OpenRocket Simulator" for the Fukuoka tournament.

In the "Space Koshien Rocket Division 2026 Fukuoka Tournament," participating teams will launch model rockets carrying quail eggs, competing on their accuracy in reaching target altitudes and flight times, and their ability to safely recover the eggs without damage. The winning team of the Fukuoka tournament will be recommended for the national tournament, scheduled to be held in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, in February 2027. Beyond the national tournament lies the path to the "International Rocketry Challenge," a world competition planned for June 2027 in Paris, France.

From "Observing" Space to "Creating" in Space: Practical Space Human Resource Development Starting from Fukuoka and Kurume Kurume City is a city of manufacturing that has forged its future through "creation," with industries such as Kurume Kasuri textiles, rubber products, and biotechnology. In recent years, the connection between regional industries and the space sector has expanded, with the technologies of local companies being utilized in the development of small SAR satellites by QPS Institute, Inc.

This Fukuoka tournament is a hands-on program where students interested in space and rockets can challenge themselves in manufacturing by thinking together, working with their hands, and engaging in trial and error. By experiencing the entire process of designing, building, launching, and verifying results themselves, rather than just learning knowledge, they can gain learning directly applicable to science, mathematics, technology, information, inquiry-based learning, and project-based research. Students with no prior rocket-building experience can also participate. The preliminary workshops will cover rocket basics, design and manufacturing, safety management, and launch preparations, providing content that allows even beginners to take their first step towards participating in the tournament.

Recommended for Students Who:

Are interested in space, rockets, and aviation.

Enjoy science, mathematics, technology, information, and manufacturing.

Want to fly something they built themselves.

Want to challenge a tournament as a team.

Want to connect their learning to inquiry-based activities, club activities, or project-based research.

Want to be involved in the space, aviation, mechanical, electrical/electronic, or information fields in the future.

Have no rocket knowledge yet but want to experience it first.

This program is widely open to students interested in space and manufacturing, regardless of their specialized knowledge.

Scenes from Previous Preliminary Workshops (Kimotsuki Town, Kagoshima Prefecture)

Preliminary Workshop Schedule

To prepare for the Fukuoka tournament, which will be held for the first time this year, preliminary workshops will be conducted in four regions within the prefecture to learn about rocket basics, design and manufacturing, safety management, and launch preparations.

Kitakyushu City Venue

Date: Sunday, July 5, 2026, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Venue: Tobata Campus, Kyushu Institute of Technology

Application Deadline: Friday, June 26, 2026 [Closed]

Iizuka City Venue

Date: Sunday, August 2, 2026, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Venue: Iizuka Campus, Kyushu Institute of Technology

Application Deadline: Thursday, July 30, 2026

Fukuoka City Venue

Date: Friday, August 7, 2026, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Venue: Fukuoka Prefectural Jonan High School

Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Kurume City Venue

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Venue: Kurume National College of Technology

Application Deadline: Friday, July 31, 2026

*If capacity is reached, applications may close early. If the number of applicants exceeds capacity, selection may be made based on school and grade level.

*To allow as many students as possible to participate, registration is limited to one venue per student.

Target Audience and Capacity

Junior high school, high school, and technical college students (Fukuoka Prefecture and neighboring prefectures)

Approximately 30-40 students per venue (participation by teams of 3 or more is welcomed)

Workshop Content

Construction and launch of A-type model rockets (qualification for Level 4 license application)

Design simulation lecture using "OpenRocket Simulator" for the Fukuoka tournament

Special lectures by industry, academia, and government representatives from the space industry, etc.

Lecturer: Keisuke Maeda

Associate Professor, Special Appointment, Department of Space Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology

Born in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture in 1977. Completed graduate studies at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Akita University. Assumed current position in June 2024. While engaged in the development of ultra-small satellites at the NAKASUKA Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, and at Astroscale Inc. and the Center for Planetary Exploration Research, Chiba Institute of Technology, he has also been involved in operating events such as the Noshiro Space Event, Ehime Nanyo Joint Balloon Experiment, Gunma Space Award, and Space Koshien, conducting space education activities for a wide range of ages from elementary school students to university students across Japan. He is also a director of the Akita Space Consortium General Incorporated Association, a director of the Space Koshien Executive Committee General Incorporated Association, a producer for Kyushu Mirai Kyoso General Incorporated Association, and the CEO/Project Manager of Terrace Space Co., Ltd. (Kyoto Prefecture), which is engaged in the planning and development of mass-produced ultra-small satellites.

Participation Application

Students wishing to participate should apply through the dedicated registration form on the official website by the application deadline for each venue. Applications for the Iizuka City venue will be made on a separate site.

"Space Koshien Rocket Division 2026 Fukuoka Tournament" Overview

The "Space Koshien Rocket Division 2026 Fukuoka Tournament" will feature teams of junior high school, high school, and technical college students from Fukuoka Prefecture and neighboring prefectures launching model rockets carrying quail eggs, competing on how closely they can approach the target altitude and flight time, and their ability to safely recover the quail eggs without damage. One team will be recommended from the Fukuoka tournament to advance to the national tournament.

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (scheduled)

Venue: Kurume National College of Technology (1-1-1 Komorino, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture)

Target Audience: Teams of junior high school, high school, and technical college students from Fukuoka Prefecture and neighboring prefectures (Approximately 10 teams: 3 or more members per team / mixed junior high/high school and mixed schools allowed)

Content: Competition involving launching model rockets carrying quail eggs, competing on target altitude, flight time, and safe recovery of the eggs.

Recommendation: The winning team of the Fukuoka tournament will be recommended for the national tournament.

Participation Fee: Free *Transportation costs to the venue are the responsibility of the participant.

Mayor of Kurume City, Shingo Haraguchi

I am extremely pleased that the "Space Koshien Rocket Division 2026 Fukuoka Tournament," the first of its kind in Fukuoka Prefecture, will be held in Kurume City.

Kurume City is a city that has forged its future through "creation," with traditional industries such as Kurume Kasuri, the rubber industry developed from tabi production, and currently, the biotechnology industry. The history of manufacturing, woven by our predecessors, now connects to space.

One symbol of this is the small SAR satellite "QPS-SAR" developed by QPS Institute, Inc. The technologies of local manufacturing companies, including those in Kurume City and the Chikugo region, are utilized in satellite development, and the precision processing, mechanical design, material processing, and assembly skills honed in the region support the space industry.

Against this backdrop of connections between regional industries and space, the international space conference ISTS Fukuoka Kurume was held in 2023, providing citizens with an opportunity to feel closer to space technology and science. Furthermore, in 2026, food developed by a local company obtained JAXA's Japanese Space Food certification for the first time in Kyushu, demonstrating that Kurume's challenge in space is expanding from manufacturing to food, and then to space living.

Our city aims to be a city that future generations can be proud of, where young people can work and live with peace of mind. We believe that human resource development is crucial for strengthening the region's earning power and nurturing new industries. This tournament is a valuable opportunity for junior high, high school, and technical college students from Fukuoka Prefecture and neighboring prefectures to gather in Kurume City, think together, work with their hands, learn from failures, and challenge the future.

We sincerely hope that everyone interested in space, rockets, and manufacturing, as well as those who wish to support young people challenging the future, will participate in this tournament. We, all of Kurume, will support the young talent who will weave new dreams in the manufacturing city of Kurume.

I sincerely pray for the success and development of the "Space Koshien Rocket Division 2026 Fukuoka Prefectural Tournament" and for the best efforts of all participants.

Space Koshien is a "space version" of Koshien, an initiative by the Space Koshien Executive Committee General Incorporated Association (Representative Director: Eisuke Akiyama, Professor at Wakayama University; Special Advisor: Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki) that cultivates individuals capable of tackling global frontiers through practical education.

Junior and senior high school students from across the country compete in events such as simulated satellite launches, balloon launches, and rocket launches held in various regions. In the rocket division, they compete on the launch altitude and flight time of model rockets carrying eggs.

Students experience the entire process from rocket design, manufacturing, launch, to verification, acquiring fundamental skills applicable to a wide range of industrial fields such as aerospace, mechanical, electrical/information, and control. Furthermore, by setting challenges as a team, repeating prototyping and verification, and analyzing failures for improvement, they develop practical problem-solving skills required of future engineers, researchers, and field leaders.

Special Advisor Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki

Space Koshien is a place where students can compete with peers from across the country using space-related technologies.

I have been deeply moved by the earnest efforts of past participating students and have realized the importance of having such opportunities for serious competition. By aiming for Space Koshien, students can gain a wide range of experience, not only in technology but also in mission setting for problem-solving, teamwork, and project management.

Students who gain experience and hone their field skills here will surely pioneer various fields both within and outside of space. I sincerely thank all related organizations and sponsors who support this activity, the dedicated school teachers, and the volunteers, and I humbly request the support of many others.

This tournament is not merely a competition event but a practical educational program to foster human resources who will lead the next generation in Fukuoka Prefecture. By collaborating with regional universities, technical colleges, high schools, municipalities, and companies, we aim to develop this tournament into a platform for nurturing talent across the entire region and to serve as an entry point for sustainable human resource development that supports regional industries.

We are currently recruiting "Regional Co-creation Partners" who agree with the purpose of this initiative and wish to cooperate and support it. If you are interested, please contact us.

Co-organized by

Kurume Research Park Co., Ltd.

Kyushu Mirai Kyoso General Incorporated Association

Regional Co-creation Partners [Cooperation] (Under coordination / Recruiting)

Ogawa Kiko Co., Ltd.

World Intellect Co., Ltd.

NPO E-SET (Enjin Space Engineering Team)

Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC

Uchu no Mise (by BCC)

Kyushu University PLANET-Q

Kyushu Institute of Technology

Fukuoka University FUROCK

Kurume National College of Technology

Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Kitakyushu City, Iizuka City

Fukuoka Growth Next

Other Tournament Information In fiscal year 2025, in collaboration with local governments, we held regional tournaments for the first time in Kagoshima and Oita within the Kyushu region. In fiscal year 2026, we will continue to hold them in Kagoshima and Oita. Regional tournaments are also being held nationwide, and participation from different regions regardless of residence is possible. Teams belonging to schools/organizations in regions where regional tournaments are not held can participate in the online competition. For details, please check the "Space Koshien Rocket Division 2026 Regional Qualifier Certification Guidelines."

🚀 Space Koshien Rocket Division 2025 Kagoshima Tournament Digest Video

🚀 Space Koshien Rocket Division 2025 Oita Tournament Digest Video

Contact Information Secretariat (within Kyushu Mirai Kyoso General Incorporated Association) secretary*qsbc.jp Please replace the asterisk with '@'. Please note that it may take some time to receive a response depending on the content.