Call for Entries for the 33rd Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition, an event with over 30 years of history attracting works from across Japan! Deadline: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

The "Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition," held in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, is one of Japan's leading public exhibitions for paper lanterns, having solicited works from across the country for over 30 years. The judging is conducted by experts active at the forefront of various fields such as Washi paper, design, architecture, and art, who will determine the awards after a rigorous selection process. Applications are open to everyone, regardless of professional or amateur status. We welcome not only unique and individualistic works but also those full of new ideas and challenges. Why not give shape to the new possibilities of "light" with your own unique and free ideas?

32nd Family Division Grand Prize Winner: "Kitamura Family's Holiday"

32nd Elementary School Division Grand Prize Winner: "Everyone's Forest Light" 32nd Junior High School Division Grand Prize Winner: "Fireworks"
32nd Mino Washi Akari Art Grand Prize Winner: "Cut-out Objects"

【What is the Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition?】

In 1994, the "Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition" was first held in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, one of Japan's three major Washi paper producing regions. The exhibition was initiated with the aim of revitalizing Mino Washi paper and promoting the "Uda-tsu" merchant street, which is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

Since then, the event has continued to operate with the help of over 100 local committee members and volunteers each year, becoming a beloved event for people both within and outside the region, as a historic event in Mino City.

【The Appeal of Exhibiting Works at the Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition】

1. You can exhibit Washi paper art that you created yourself in a historic, traditional townscape.

2. Many tourists can appreciate your artwork.

3. Renowned artists also pay attention, and you can have your work evaluated by esteemed judges in the art field. https://www.akariart.jp/about/#section-04

4. While creating your work, you can experience the characteristics and traditions of Mino Washi paper, a traditional industry.

5. There is a possibility of being selected for a prize of up to 500,000 yen.

【Process to Exhibit a Work】

We hope that many people, including those interested in Mino Washi paper, those who love creation, artists, creators, and those interested in events, will create Mino Washi paper light art with their own sensibilities and enjoy viewing the exhibited works in the townscape during the event.

Check application and work regulations

Application Regulations https://www.akariart.jp/information#section-03

Work Regulations https://www.akariart.jp/information#section-04

Pay the exhibition fee (for the General Division only - 2000 yen per work) via bank transfer.

Submit application documents by mail or web (Deadline: Wednesday, September 2, 2026)

Apply by mail or web (Web application is smoother)

Web Application https://www.akariart.jp/entry

Prepare Mino Washi paper, light source, etc., and create the work.

You can purchase various Mino Washi papers from stores or online shops.

Basic construction methods can be confirmed from the following link.

https://www.akariart.jp/create/

Send photos of the work by mail or web.

Web Submission https://www.akariart.jp/application/

Deliver the work to the judging venue (Saturday, October 10, 2026).

View your own and other works at the Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition and event.

(Sunday, October 11 to Friday, October 23, 2026)

【Event Overview】

■ Divisions: General Division, Elementary School Division, Junior High School Division, Family Division

■ Delivery and Judging: Saturday, October 10, 2026, Mino City Disaster Prevention Central Community Center, Gifu Prefecture

Exhibitors are requested to deliver their works themselves.

After that, the judges will view the works and make their decisions.

■ Exhibition: Uda-tsu merchant street, Mino City, Gifu Prefecture (displayed in acrylic cases)

Facilities within Mino City, Gifu Prefecture (indoor exhibition)

■ Collection: Award-winning works will be purchased by the organizers.

Other works must be collected by the exhibitors after the exhibition ends (from Sunday, October 25 onwards).

【Judges】

Special Advisor: Motoko Ishii (Lighting Designer)

General Division: Hideaki Furukawa, Chairman of the Judging Committee & Former Director of Gifu Prefectural Museum of Art

Eriko Horiki, Washi Artist

Hiroko Takahashi, Artist & Professor at Musashino Art University

Koji Shibasaki, Professor at Aichi University of the Arts

Elementary School, Junior High School, and Family Divisions: Yuji Hashida, Lighting Designer

Mikiko Hibino, Artist

Masayuki Tsuchiya, Former Chairman of the Gifu Prefectural Council for Arts and Culture

【Application Deadline】

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 (Receipt by this date)

Submit application documents by mail or web.

Web Application https://www.akariart.jp/entry

*Work photos can be sent separately (by mail or web) by Wednesday, September 30 (Receipt by this date).

Web Submission https://www.akariart.jp/application/

【Prizes】

General Division (All are purchase prizes)

Mino Washi Akari Art Award and Gifu Governor's Award (1 winner): 500,000 yen prize money and a certificate.

Mino Washi Akari Art Award (2 winners): 100,000 yen prize money and a certificate.

Light Up Award (Judges' Award) (Several winners): 30,000 yen prize money and a certificate.

Honorable Mention (approx. 20 winners): 10,000 yen prize money and a certificate.

Akari Townscape Award (Encouragement Prize) (approx. 30 winners): 5,000 yen prize money.

Elementary School, Junior High School, and Family Divisions (Only Grand Prizes are purchase prizes)

Division Grand Prize: Elementary School Grand Prize, Junior High School Grand Prize, Family Grand Prize (1 winner each): 30,000 yen prize money and a certificate.

Division Award (Judges' Award) (Several winners): 10,000 yen prize money and a certificate.

Honorable Mention (approx. 20 winners from all 3 divisions): Certificate of Commendation.

【Application Fee】

General Division: 2000 yen per work.

Elementary School Division, Junior High School Division, Family Division: Free.

【How to Apply】

Apply by mail or web: https://www.akariart.jp/entry

Photos can be sent separately by mail or web: https://www.akariart.jp/application/

Photos: L-size, vertical orientation.

3 photos: 1. Front view with light on, 2. Front view with light off, 3. Free choice.