Applications Open for 5th KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition 2026: Grand Prize Includes Supplementary Prizes Worth 1.5 Million Yen
Kai Corporation has started accepting entries for the 5th 'KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition 2026' until August 12, 2026, with Nobuki Hizume, a holder of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France, as a judge. The grand prize includes supplementary prizes totaling 1.5 million yen in value.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 00:00
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Global cutlery manufacturer Kai Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and COO: Hiroaki Endo), as a collaborative project from a company that has been manufacturing and selling sewing scissors for over 40 years, is accepting entries for the 5th annual hat design contest, 'KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition 2026'. The contest invites Hat & Head-piece designer Nobuki Hizume, who holds the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France, as a judge.
■KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition URL: https://www.kai-group.com/kaihat/
Overview of 'KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition 2026'
Hosted by Kai, a global cutlery manufacturer with over 40 years of history in developing and manufacturing sewing scissors, this hat and head-piece design contest has been held since 2022, featuring Hat & Head-piece designer Nobuki Hizume, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France titleholder, as a judge.
From the submitted designs, a primary screening will be conducted, and those who pass will be asked to create their actual pieces.
At that time, a production support grant of 20,000 yen will be provided. The winner selected for the Grand Prize in the final screening (secondary screening) will be awarded a supplementary prize totaling 1.5 million yen, which includes fashion training, Kai's sewing scissors 'O', and a fashion media interview.
Furthermore, this year, entries are accepted in both the Hat category and the Head-piece category, and new 'Hat Category Special Prize' and 'Head-piece Category Special Prize' will be established. Each winner will receive a cash prize of 50,000 yen. The Grand Prize will be awarded to a single most outstanding work chosen from both categories.
Additionally, Excellence Award winners will receive Kai sewing scissors, and selected participants will receive a certificate.
- Theme: 'Enthusiasm' (Nekkyo)
- Application Period: Until 11:59 PM, Wednesday, August 12, 2026
- How to Apply: https://www.kai-group.com/kaihat/
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kai_hat_headpiece_competition/
- Schedule:
Application Deadline: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Announcement of Primary Screening Results: Early September 2026
Hat Production Deadline: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Final Selection: Late November 2026
Grand Prize Announcement: Early December 2026
Fashion Training: From Spring 2027 onwards
* The contest schedule is subject to unavoidable changes.
Profile of Nobuki Hizume
After graduating at the top of his class from the Apparel Design Department of Bunka Fashion College in 2004, he moved to Italy. He presented collections as an underwear designer for an Italian manufacturer.
After returning to Japan, he worked on hats and head-pieces for domestic and international stages and musicians, while simultaneously launching 'NOBUKI HIZUME' as an artistic endeavor. Relocating to France in 2009, he has created hats for Paris Collections of numerous grand maisons. In 2019, he was recognized as a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (M.O.F). *Meilleur Ouvrier de France is a title awarded to craftsmen with highly advanced skills suitable as inheritors of French culture, said to be equivalent to Japan's Important Intangible Cultural Property (commonly known as Living National Treasure) certification system. In the same year, he launched his hat brand 'HIZUME'.
Appearing on MBS 'Jounetsu Tairiku' in fall 2024, and creating hats for the 26FW collections of COMME des GARÇONS, Loewe, and Mugler, he has been further expanding his field of activity in recent years.
Nobuki Hizume Work Introduction
©︎HIZUME
HIZUME... Launching his own hat brand 'HIZUME' in 2019, based on his unique philosophy that 'the best hat designer is the best hat craftsman', he expresses the organic and urban worldview of the HIZUME brand through techniques pursued to the ultimate limit, backed by his M.O.F title.
HIZUME URL: https://hizume.com
Judge Profile
YO SUZUKI
Oversees marketing and design as CCO / CMO at global cutlery manufacturer Kai Corporation. Also serves as CCO at the Swedish creative agency Great Works. In recent years, as a creative director, he has been engaged in expression production and corporate promotion production both domestically and internationally. His works include video direction and stage background production for actor Mari Natsuki's performance 'PLAY×PRAY', and producing 'Shibuya SAUNA' handled by manga artist Katsuki Tanaka.
■KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition URL: https://www.kai-group.com/kaihat/
Overview of 'KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition 2026'
Hosted by Kai, a global cutlery manufacturer with over 40 years of history in developing and manufacturing sewing scissors, this hat and head-piece design contest has been held since 2022, featuring Hat & Head-piece designer Nobuki Hizume, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France titleholder, as a judge.
From the submitted designs, a primary screening will be conducted, and those who pass will be asked to create their actual pieces.
At that time, a production support grant of 20,000 yen will be provided. The winner selected for the Grand Prize in the final screening (secondary screening) will be awarded a supplementary prize totaling 1.5 million yen, which includes fashion training, Kai's sewing scissors 'O', and a fashion media interview.
Furthermore, this year, entries are accepted in both the Hat category and the Head-piece category, and new 'Hat Category Special Prize' and 'Head-piece Category Special Prize' will be established. Each winner will receive a cash prize of 50,000 yen. The Grand Prize will be awarded to a single most outstanding work chosen from both categories.
Additionally, Excellence Award winners will receive Kai sewing scissors, and selected participants will receive a certificate.
- Theme: 'Enthusiasm' (Nekkyo)
- Application Period: Until 11:59 PM, Wednesday, August 12, 2026
- How to Apply: https://www.kai-group.com/kaihat/
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kai_hat_headpiece_competition/
- Schedule:
Application Deadline: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Announcement of Primary Screening Results: Early September 2026
Hat Production Deadline: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Final Selection: Late November 2026
Grand Prize Announcement: Early December 2026
Fashion Training: From Spring 2027 onwards
* The contest schedule is subject to unavoidable changes.
Profile of Nobuki Hizume
After graduating at the top of his class from the Apparel Design Department of Bunka Fashion College in 2004, he moved to Italy. He presented collections as an underwear designer for an Italian manufacturer.
After returning to Japan, he worked on hats and head-pieces for domestic and international stages and musicians, while simultaneously launching 'NOBUKI HIZUME' as an artistic endeavor. Relocating to France in 2009, he has created hats for Paris Collections of numerous grand maisons. In 2019, he was recognized as a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (M.O.F). *Meilleur Ouvrier de France is a title awarded to craftsmen with highly advanced skills suitable as inheritors of French culture, said to be equivalent to Japan's Important Intangible Cultural Property (commonly known as Living National Treasure) certification system. In the same year, he launched his hat brand 'HIZUME'.
Appearing on MBS 'Jounetsu Tairiku' in fall 2024, and creating hats for the 26FW collections of COMME des GARÇONS, Loewe, and Mugler, he has been further expanding his field of activity in recent years.
Nobuki Hizume Work Introduction
©︎HIZUME
HIZUME... Launching his own hat brand 'HIZUME' in 2019, based on his unique philosophy that 'the best hat designer is the best hat craftsman', he expresses the organic and urban worldview of the HIZUME brand through techniques pursued to the ultimate limit, backed by his M.O.F title.
HIZUME URL: https://hizume.com
Judge Profile
YO SUZUKI
Oversees marketing and design as CCO / CMO at global cutlery manufacturer Kai Corporation. Also serves as CCO at the Swedish creative agency Great Works. In recent years, as a creative director, he has been engaged in expression production and corporate promotion production both domestically and internationally. His works include video direction and stage background production for actor Mari Natsuki's performance 'PLAY×PRAY', and producing 'Shibuya SAUNA' handled by manga artist Katsuki Tanaka.
FAQ
What is the grand prize for the KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition?
The grand prize includes fashion training, Kai's sewing scissors 'O', and a fashion media interview, totaling 1.5 million yen in value.
Is there any financial support for production costs in the contest?
Yes, those who pass the first round of judging will receive 20,000 yen as a production support grant to create their actual pieces.
Who is Nobuki Hizume?
He is a Hat & Head-piece designer holding the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (M.O.F) title, known for creating hats for various grand maisons' Paris Collections.