Urawa University Establishes New Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for "10th Toy Contest"! Submissions from High School Students Nationwide to be Accepted from July 1st

Urawa University (President: Yu Hisada, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture) will begin accepting submissions for the "10th Toy Contest" for high school students nationwide from Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

Urawa University "10th Toy Contest"

This contest is for high school students nationwide to compete with their ideas and creations for toys that children aged 1 to 6 can play with safely. For the 10th iteration, a new "Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award" has been established, along with the new "SDGs & Upcycle Award" to recognize works that utilize everyday waste materials.

Urawa University, which has a Faculty of Child Studies, has been holding this contest since 2017, and has received over 7,000 submissions from high school students nationwide to date. Last year, 668 works were submitted from 73 schools across the country, and the contest has become established as a venue for high school students to present the results of their research activities and craftsmanship.

The submission period is until Thursday, September 24. The judging results will be announced on Saturday, October 31 on the official Urawa University website, official LINE, and Instagram.

◆Announcement of Submissions for the 10th "Urawa University Toy Contest"

https://www.urawa.ac.jp/urawa-info/sonota/15419

Examples of Past Award-Winning Works

9th General Category Grand Prize: "I Want to Gut a Fish!" (Riko Taniguchi, Wakayama Prefectural Tanabe High School) 7th Woodworking Category Grand Prize: "Forest Cake Shop" (Rei Anzai, Hokkaido Otoi-neppu Art and Crafts High School) 6th General Category Grand Prize: "Let's Make it Together! Original Parfait" (Riho Fukushima, Kogakuin University High School)

Features of the Urawa University Toy Contest

Thinking About Toys for Children

The Urawa University Toy Contest is a contest for high school students to design safe toys for children aged 1 to 6. By repeatedly devising ideas while imagining the smiles of children, it provides an opportunity to foster "consideration for others" and "creativity." Another major feature is the establishment of the "Woodworking Category" since the 3rd contest, with the support of Saitama Prefecture and others. The aim is to create an opportunity to think about "wood education" (experiencing wood through touch, and feeling its warmth and scent with all five senses), the utilization of local forest resources, and environmental conservation.

Connecting High School Learning to Society

This contest is utilized as a venue for presenting the results of high school research activities, as well as classes in home economics, art, and technology, and extracurricular activities such as art and home economics clubs. Due to the Woodworking Category, submissions are also received from industrial high schools. Many students work on their creations during their summer vacation, and it provides an opportunity to proactively tackle problem-solving through repeated planning, production, and improvement.

Excellent Works May Be Commercialized

Excellent works may be commercialized through collaboration with companies. The possibility of one's own idea being sent out into the world as an actual product is one of the major attractions of this contest. It is a chance for works born from the free ideas and ingenuity unique to high school students to reach many children.

6th Woodworking Category Excellence Award: "Sandan Korogashi" (Shido Kanai, Saitama Prefectural Omiya Technical High School*)

This was commercialized in 2023 through collaboration with a company.

*Saitama Prefectural Omiya Technical High School has since been integrated and is now Saitama Prefectural Omiya Science and Technology High School.

Features of the 10th Contest

The 10th contest introduces the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award and the SDGs & Upcycle Award, further supporting diverse learning and challenges related to social issues. The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award will select the single best work from all categories, and the SDGs & Upcycle Award will select works that have transformed everyday waste materials (such as empty boxes, plastic containers, scraps, and old clothes) into fun toys through creative ideas.

This contest is held with the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Saitama Prefecture, and Saitama City.

10th Urawa University Toy Contest Submission Guidelines

【Eligibility】

High school students nationwide (individuals or groups are welcome)

【Categories】

・General Category

・Woodworking Category

【Work Requirements】

Must be a toy that children aged 1 to 6 can play with safely.

【Submission Period】

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 – Thursday, September 24, 2026 (must arrive by this date)

【Awards】

・Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (1 work from all categories)

・Grand Prize

・Excellence Award

・Honorable Mention

・SDGs & Upcycle Award

・School Award

・Saitama Rapid Railway Award

・Aeon Urawa Misono Award

【Support】

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Saitama Prefecture, Saitama City

【How to Apply】

Download the application form from the Urawa University special website and submit it by mail or email attachment. Applications can also be submitted collectively by high school.

Special Website: https://www.urawa.ac.jp/urawa-info/sonota/15419

Poster for Urawa University "10th Toy Contest"

About Urawa University

Urawa University is a private university located in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. With the philosophy of "Pursuing practical learning and cultivating virtue," it offers a Faculty of Child Studies (Department of Child Studies, Department of School Education) and a Faculty of Social Studies (Department of Comprehensive Social Welfare, Department of Contemporary Society), and works to foster human resources who support childcare, early childhood education, elementary education, welfare, and local communities. Furthermore, through educational and research activities in cooperation with the local community, including the "Toy Contest" for high school students, it provides opportunities for practical learning.

【University Overview】

Corporate Name: School Corporation Kuri Gakuen University Name: Urawa University

Location: 3551 Osaki, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, 336-0974

President: Yu Hisada

Foundation: 1946

Faculties and Departments: Faculty of Child Studies (Department of Child Studies, Department of School Education) ・

Faculty of Social Studies (Department of Comprehensive Social Welfare, Department of Contemporary Society)

Official Website: https://www.urawa.ac.jp/

【Contact Information for Inquiries】

Urawa University Admissions and Public Relations Office, "10th Toy Contest Secretariat"

Address: 3551 Osaki, Midori-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, 336-0974

TEL: 048-878-5536

E-mail: nyushi@urawa.ac.jp