Okayama Prefecture Invites Design Proposals for Local Design License Plates! Grand Prize of 100,000 Yen!

Okayama Prefecture is considering introducing local design license plates (regional version) aimed at regional revitalization and tourism promotion. We are widely inviting design proposals that express the charms of the prefecture's nature, history, culture, and scenic spots, contributing to image improvement and regional revitalization, and becoming widely familiar and cherished by the prefectural residents. Application Overview Application Period April 15, 2026 (Wednesday) - May 31, 2026 (Sunday) (Must arrive by deadline) *Applications outside the above period will not be accepted. Applicant Qualifications Individuals residing in Japan (at least from the date of application submission until the announcement of selection results mentioned later) Design Themes Design proposals should be based on the following themes and contribute to Okayama Prefecture's regional revitalization and tourism promotion. There is no upper limit on the number of themes that can be selected, and it is possible to combine multiple themes in a single design. * Related to Momotaro * Related to Fruits * Related to "Sunny Country Okayama" * Related to Sports Teams * Related to Nature, History, Culture, and Scenic Spots How to Create Design Proposals Please download the specified form from the prefectural website and create the design either by hand or as digital data. When creating the design proposal, please be sure to check "About the Creation of Okayama Prefecture Design License Plate Proposals." Result Announcement Around late September 2026 (planned) Prizes, etc. Grand Prize (1 submission): 100,000 yen Excellence Award (approx. 4 submissions): 20,000 yen For details, please visit the Okayama Prefecture website! Prefectural website: https://www.pref.okayama.jp/page/1024906.html What are Local Design License Plates (Regional Version)? Local design license plates (regional version) were launched on October 1, 2018, with the aim of promoting regional attractiveness nationwide by depicting local landscapes and tourism resources as "moving billboards." A donation system has been introduced for design license plates, and the funds are utilized for initiatives such as traffic improvement and tourism promotion in the respective regions. (1) Issuance Unit (in cases of prefecture-wide design introduction) * Issued based on the geographical scope of the prefecture, for registered vehicles (private and commercial use) and light motor vehicles (private use, excluding rental cars, etc.). (2) Issuing Authority * Designated issuing agents by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. (3) Types and Sizes of License Plates * Local design license plates will be of one type with a donation option. * Regarding size, registered vehicles will use large and medium plates, and light motor vehicles will use medium plates. (4) Types of Designs * One design per prefecture. Designs can be full-color as a basic principle, or monotone-based. Click here for existing design license plates! Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website: https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/zugaranumber_top/ National Introduction Status Starting with the first phase of 41 regions in 2018, the scope expanded to 17 regions in 2020, 10 regions in 2023, and 5 regions in 2025. The introducing regions are gradually expanding, and nationwide deployment is progressing. Particularly from the third phase onwards, introduction has become possible at the prefectural level in addition to the regional name display unit, promoting wider adoption. In addition to the regional version, a nationwide design license plate (national version) has also been introduced, expanding options for users to select designs according to their purpose and preferences. Examples of introduction by regional name display unit (Phases 1, 2, 3, 4) Examples of introduction by prefectural unit (Phase 3) Mikan (Phase 1) Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Phase 3) Akita Dog parent and child Yamata no Orochi (Phase 2) Flash City Iwaki (Phase 4) Tochigi's Ichigo Examples of Donation Utilization Councils are established in each region, and after publishing the policy for donation utilization in advance, the funds are used for projects contributing to regional revitalization and tourism promotion. With the revision of the implementation guidelines, disaster recovery and reconstruction support has also been newly added as a utilization purpose. Donation utilization projects have been recruited annually since fiscal year 2019, and in fiscal year 2024, subsidies were granted to 26 projects (19 regions). *Reference material from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Interim Summary (June 2025) Examples of Donation Utilization in FY2024 (excerpt) Introducing Region Name Project Content Akita Prefecture (entire Akita Prefecture) Bus Arrival/Departure Information Digital Signage Installation Project Izumo (Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, etc.) Izumo Sangyo Mirai Expo 2024 Shuttle Bus Operation Project Izumo Dome Kamiari Wind Orchestra Festival Shuttle Bus Operation Project Ehime (entire Ehime Prefecture) Traffic Safety Public Relations Work Production and Towards Traffic Safety