Osaka Prefectural Nagano High School Student, Winner of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the "3rd FES Contest Supported by Japan Post Bank," Pays Courtesy Visit to Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura

On March 27, 2026, Hibiki Takeda, a student from Osaka Prefectural Nagano High School who won the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the "3rd FES Contest Supported by Japan Post Bank" (hereinafter "this Contest"), paid a courtesy visit to Osaka Prefecture Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura to report on her national achievement.

The "FES Contest®" is a financial education video contest organized by the Financial Education Support Organization of Japan (located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Co-Representative Directors: Risa Hirai and Nana Abe; hereinafter "the Organization").

This Contest adopts a learning cycle model where junior and senior high school students produce 1-minute financial education short videos, university students plan and operate, and elementary school students participate in the judging. The goal is to make financial education more accessible as self-initiated learning and to promote the sharing of knowledge across generations.

Junior and senior high school students actively learn about money and the economic society and deepen their understanding through the output of video production. Additionally, university student volunteers manage the operations, and elementary school students participate in the judging, creating an intergenerational learning platform as a "contest by students, for students, of students."

Furthermore, the contest features themes based on one of the eight behavioral categories for practical financial education organized by the Organization, known as "The 8 Powers of Money" (Spend, Earn, Pay Taxes, Save, Prepare, Give, Borrow, Grow). Videos are 1-minute vertical short videos, familiar to young people, and use expressions that can be understood even by elementary school students.

By requiring participants to explain money to elementary school students, financial education becomes a "personal matter" for junior and senior high school students, leading to deeper learning. Starting this year, the elementary school student judging system has been fully implemented, and its utilization as a learning opportunity for elementary school students is also being promoted.

The "3rd FES Contest®" received 897 entries from 26 prefectures across Japan, and the awards ceremony was held on Saturday, November 29, 2025. As a result, Hibiki Takeda (hereinafter "Ms. Takeda"), a third-year student at Osaka Prefectural Nagano High School, received the highest honor, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award.

During this courtesy visit, Ms. Takeda presented her award-winning work and reported to Osaka Prefecture Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura (hereinafter "Governor Yoshimura") on the inspiration and creative efforts behind its production.

Award-winning works of the "3rd FES Contest Supported by Japan Post Bank"

Osaka Prefecture: Prefectural Nagano High School Student Who Won the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the "3rd FES Contest National Competition" Pays Courtesy Visit to the Governor

Ms. Takeda's video, "Various Ways to Pay," was created with the aim of explaining the familiar topic of cashless payments in an easy-to-understand manner for elementary school students.

It starts with a narration by her younger sister's voice to address children, and uses self-made illustrations to keep viewers engaged until the end.

Governor Yoshimura, who himself regularly appears in and distributes videos, expressed deep empathy for Ms. Takeda's creative effort, presented during her presentation, to "capture the viewer's heart in the first 3 seconds."

After receiving an explanation about the "FES Contest®," Governor Yoshimura offered words of encouragement, saying, "The system where junior and senior high school students learn by clearly conveying what they've learned to elementary school students and teaching them is a truly wonderful initiative for improving financial literacy."

Additionally, Superintendent of Education Tatsuro Mizuno, who was also present, praised the initiative for expanding its scope to include elementary school students.

The Organization's project, "A society where all children, regardless of their environment, can learn financial education," has been adopted for the 2025 business year under Osaka Prefecture's "Social Issue Resolution Project for Achieving SDGs through NPO Support." During this courtesy visit, activities within Osaka Prefecture, including this project, were also reported.

Osaka Prefecture Adopts Financial Education Support Organization of Japan's Educational Program "Social Issue Resolution Project through NPO Support"

We believe this award is a testament to the students' efforts and also demonstrates a part of the educational achievements in Osaka Prefecture. The Organization will continue to strengthen its collaboration with local governments and work to create opportunities to foster the initiative and social participation awareness of young people through the promotion of community-based financial education.

Visit Outline

Date and Time: Friday, March 27, 2026, 13:00 – 13:20

Location: Osaka Prefectural Government Main Building, 3rd Floor, Special Conference Room (Large)

Visitors (honorifics omitted):

Hibiki Takeda, Graduate of Osaka Prefectural Nagano High School (graduated March 2026)

Keiko Kurasawa, Head of Public Relations Department, Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd.

Ho Kondo, Graduate of Kansai University (graduated March 2026)

Nana Abe, Co-Representative Director, Financial Education Support Organization of Japan

Organization Information