Bell Mark 65th Anniversary T-Shirt Design Decided
The Asahi Shimbun Company and the Bell Mark Education Support Foundation have announced the winners of a T-shirt design contest to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Bell Mark movement. The contest received 250 entries, with three Gold Prize winners and twelve Silver Prize winners selected. The Bell Mark Foundation, established in 1960, supports educational initiatives nationwide by collecting "Bell Marks" from products.
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The Asahi Shimbun Company (President and CEO: Katsushi Tsunoda) has long nurtured and supported the Bell Mark movement. To commemorate the 65th anniversary of the start of the Bell Mark movement, the winning entries of the "T-Shirt Design Contest" held by its affiliated organization, the Bell Mark Education Support Foundation (Chairman: Masami Zenyay), have been decided. There are 3 Gold Prize winners and 12 Silver Prize winners.
The Bell Mark movement celebrated its 65th anniversary in October 2025. In commemoration, a call for T-shirt designs incorporating the Bell Mark logo and the number "65" was held from December 2025 to February 2026. Announcements were made on the foundation's website, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), receiving 250 entries from a wide range of age groups, from elementary school students to middle-aged and elderly individuals.
□Below are the comments from the award winners (pen names) and the judges' comments on their selected Gold Prize works.
（Judging by Sadahiro Tanabe, Assistant Manager of Public Relations and Brand, Asahi Shimbun Company - former Design Department Manager）
◎Saaya
《Self-Comment》
Expressing how the small sound of bells lightly spreads over the staff lines, eventually connecting into a large circle of support. With a design that spreads along with the musical notes, I put my wish that the feeling of mutual help reaches across the country.
《Judging Comment》
It sounds like you can hear the music. The idea of using staff lines is excellent, and the connection of individual goodwill is accurately expressed. It also pairs well with the copy.
◎Chimachima
《Self-Comment》
The Bell Mark movement began with "For the smiles of children." Small activities lead to great support, and this time, celebrating the 65th anniversary, I've put in my wish that it continues on.
《Judging Comment》
The experience of collecting Bell Marks is expressed by "cutting," and the heart beyond the cutting line conveys kindness. It's simply and effectively summarized as a mark suitable for a T-shirt.
◎Nakona
《Self-Comment》
When I was in elementary school, I collected Bell Marks with my family and delivered them to school. I think it's a wonderful activity where things gathered by individuals from their immediate surroundings become large and useful. With respect for the 65-year history, I drew it with the thought of it continuing in the future.
《Judging Comment》
You have strong drawing skills. The painterly touch drawn three-dimensionally is excellent, and the overall impression is very gentle. The colorful use of colors is also cheerful and makes one feel the potential of Bell Marks.
□The 12 Silver Prize winning works are as follows.
Gold Prize winners will receive a certificate of award and a T-shirt printed with their design. The T-shirts will be produced in cooperation with Fine Plus Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo), a sponsor of the Bell Mark movement.
The runner-up prize is a plush toy of the movement's mascot character "Bell-marukun"（=photo left).
Silver Prize winners will receive a Bell-marukun plush toy and a certificate of award. All applicants will receive a Bell-marukun mascot keychain as a participation prize (=photo right).
In this contest, along with the artworks, participants were also asked to share their thoughts on the Bell Mark movement, and many Bell Mark memories and messages of support for the movement were received.
"In junior high school, we used Bell Marks collected through student council activities to purchase school facilities."
"I learned that it connects people worldwide and provides various forms of support."
"I have been collecting Bell Marks for many years. I support this activity becoming more friendly and full of kindness."
【Asahi Shimbun Company and Bell Mark Education Support Foundation】
The Bell Mark Foundation was established in 1960 with the aim of "supporting schools in remote areas." The Asahi Shimbun Company played a significant role in its establishment.
Empathy for the Bell Mark movement, which aims for an "environment where children in cities and children in remote areas can learn equally," rapidly spread throughout Japan, and support was extended to special needs schools and disaster-affected areas. The movement, which begins by cutting small Bell Marks attached to products, currently has approximately 25,000 schools/organizations registered as participants. Over 30 billion yen in Bell Mark deposits have been collected, and over 5 billion yen in various aid has been realized to date. It continues to donate supplies and educational materials and support disaster-stricken schools.
The Asahi Shimbun Company will continue to support the activities of the Bell Mark Foundation.