[Iwate Prefecture] 'JQA Earth Environment World Children's Drawing Contest Excellence Exhibition' to be held at Ninohe City Civic Center

The Japan Quality Assurance Organization (JQA; Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroaki Ishii) and the International Certification Network (IQNET; Geneva, Switzerland) will host an exhibition of award-winning works from the 'JQA Earth Environment World Children's Drawing Contest' from Saturday, May 2, to Sunday, June 7, 2026, at the Ninohe City Civic Center.

### Exhibition Highlights Fifty-one award-winning works from the 21st contest will be displayed in the 1st-floor Citizen Hall. These works, created by children worldwide who observed nature and living things with deep sincerity, are filled with charm. Each piece reflects individuality through varying countries, regions, ages, and methods of expression.

The venue, Ninohe City Civic Center (Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture), is a multi-purpose community facility housing the 'Regional Information Center' to learn about local culture, the 'Shigeo Fukuda Design Museum' featuring works by graphic designer Shigeo Fukuda, and the 'Aikitsu Tanakadate Memorial Science Museum' where children can learn science through experiments and workshops. We invite you to experience both local charms and the wonderful artworks filled with children's messages.

### Exhibition Information - **Dates:** Saturday, May 2, 2026 - Sunday, June 7, 2026 - **Venue:** Ninohe City Civic Center, 1st Floor Citizen Hall (6-2 Ishikiridokoro-aza-niwatari, Ninohe-shi, Iwate) - **Access:** 20-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride from JR Tohoku Shinkansen / IGR Iwate Ginga Railway 'Ninohe' Station. - **Admission:** Free - **Hours:** 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM - **Closed:** May 7 (Thursday), May 25 (Monday)

### About the Contest The 'JQA Earth Environment World Children's Drawing Contest' has been held annually since 1999 to provide children with an opportunity to think about environmental issues through drawing. It is supported by the UNICEF Tokyo Office and JICA (from the 25th contest).

**Topics:** - **Now Accepting Entries for the 26th Contest:** Theme: 'What we can do for our Earth.' Deadline: Sunday, May 31, 2026. - **Touring Exhibitions Nationwide:** Schedules and free artwork lending programs are available on the website. - **Online Gallery:** Winners and past excellence works are available on the contest website.

### Organizer Profiles **Japan Quality Assurance Organization (JQA):** Established in 1957, JQA is an impartial third-party conformity assessment body. It holds the highest number of management system certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, etc.) in Japan and provides calibration services for measuring instruments. It also conducts electrical safety testing, JIS marking, and environmental assessments. **International Certification Network (IQNET):** A global network established in 1990, comprising 37 leading certification bodies worldwide. JQA is the sole member from Japan.