Grand Prix artwork to adorn Campus Notebook cover! "Campus Art Award 2026" to be held

Kokuyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City / President: Hidekuni Kuroda), in collaboration with the Yomiuri Junior High School and High School Newspaper (Publisher: Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters), will hold the "Campus Art Award 2026," a painting competition for junior and senior high school students, where the Grand Prix winning artwork will adorn the cover of Campus Notebooks. The event will take place from Monday, June 1st to Tuesday, September 8th. (Left) This year's artwork submission poster (Right) Campus Notebook featuring last year's Grand Prix winning artwork on its cover The "Campus Art Award" is a painting competition for junior and senior high school students nationwide, co-hosted by Kokuyo and the Yomiuri Junior High School and High School Newspaper, and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Japan Tourism Agency. It is held as an opportunity to support a broader sense of "learning" – gaining insights and expressing oneself through various experiences, not just classroom learning – and to expand the potential of each student. This year marks its 12th anniversary. The theme for submissions is "My Sweet Home Town ~My Local Favorite~". By inviting painting submissions with motifs such as local landscapes, customs, traditions, events, cuisine, and sweets, the competition aims to create an opportunity for students who will lead Japan's future to focus on their local areas, discover their charms, and express themselves. Applications are accepted via entry on the official website. The judging results will be announced on the official website, in the Yomiuri Junior High School and High School Newspaper, and other channels. The Grand Prix winning artwork will become the cover of a Campus Notebook, and 50 original Campus Notebooks will be presented to the winner. Additionally, 1,000 notebooks will be given to the Grand Prix winning school. Besides the Grand Prix, from among the works that pass regional judging, the Yomiuri Junior High School and High School Newspaper Award, Kokuyo Award, Regional Excellence Award, Special Judge's Award, and Honorable Mentions will be selected based on expert judging. Furthermore, a campaign will be implemented for all participants from schools that apply as a group, offering a new brand product scheduled for release in the autumn of 2026. For the final judging, following last year, illustrator Yusuke Nakamura, colored pencil artist Ryota Hayashi, and comedian Shizuchan of the comedy duo Nankai Candies, also known as an art comedian, will be invited as judges to select the winning artworks. supports the realization of a society where people can live positively through a 100-year era, and through the "Campus Art Award," it provides junior and senior high school students with an opportunity to freely express their thoughts and ideas, encouraging them to expand their individual potential. Event Period: Monday, June 1, 2026 – Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Campus Art Award Official Website: https://kokuyo.jp/pr/artaward/ Judge Profiles Yusuke Nakamura Born in 1978 in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture. After graduating from Osaka University of Arts, Department of Design, he became a freelance illustrator. His representative works include CD jackets for ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, Masashi Sada, and others, book covers such as "The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl" and "The Case of the Disappearing Detective," music textbooks, and package designs for Asadaame. His latest publication is the book cover collection "READ". His books have sold over 240,000 copies. Ryota Hayashi Colored pencil artist. After working as a graphic designer and illustrator, he began creating works with colored pencils in 2009. He mainly depicts everyday scenes, capturing the atmosphere of the moment. He has published numerous technical books and art collections. Born in Tokyo. Shizuchan Talent. Real name Shizuyo Yamazaki. The boke (funny man) of the comedy duo "Nankai Candies." She received the Newcomer of the Year award at the Japan Academy Prize for her role in the movie "Hula Girls." Her unique painting style has attracted attention, and she held her first solo exhibition in May 2023. Her picture books include "Suki Suki Don Don" (Gentosha) and "Kono Oni" (Iwasaki Shoten). *The information provided is current as of the announcement date. It is subject to change without notice. Please be aware of this in advance. [Contact Information] Kokuyo Customer Service https://www.kokuyo.co.jp/support/