Citizens of Japan, boast about your hometown! Up to 1 million yen in prize money! "JTB Kenmin Show Travel Award 2026" to be held, seeking short video entries showcasing the charm of all 47 prefectures to the nation.

The Kenmin Show Travel Award Executive Committee (Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, Progress Inc.) is partnering with JTB Corporation, which is engaged in regional revitalization, to hold the "JTB Kenmin Show Travel Award 2026," a contest seeking short videos filled with "local pride." This will be the second year the award is held.

"JTB Kenmin Show Travel Award 2026" is a short video contest that broadly solicits videos from residents of all prefectures (including general public, video creators, and local influencers) to determine the Grand Prix winner. In the first contest held last year, a total of 8,432 video entries were received from across the country, and the unique charms of each region, such as gourmet food, tourist spots, culture, and dialects, generated significant buzz on social media.

The theme for this second contest is also "local pride." We are seeking videos that express the unique charms of each region with free creativity, including gourmet food, tourist spots, dialects, culture, customs, people, and everyday occurrences. Through perspectives and stories that only those who know their hometown well can convey, we aim to discover new charms of Japan.

This year, new awards will also be established. Of particular note is the "Student Creator Award" targeted at students. As a special prize, we will offer an opportunity to create videos for JTB's official social media accounts, promoting the discovery and development of young creators who will lead future regional promotion through practical communication opportunities. Furthermore, the "Show Drama Award" will recognize works that express the charm of a region through drama and storytelling, seeking entries that convey the culture and sentiments of the people living in a place, which cannot be fully captured by simply introducing tourist information or gourmet food. The total prize money is substantial, with the Grand Prix winner receiving 1 million yen in prize money for the most outstanding work across all categories. In addition, various other categories such as "Passionate Gourmet Award," "Travel Spot Award," and "Local Peculiarities Award" will recognize works that showcase regional charms from diverse perspectives.

This year, JTB Corporation will also participate as a title sponsor. JTB's business domain is "Exchange Creation Business," and they promote initiatives that connect regions, companies, educational institutions, and individuals. Through this award, they aim to expand new circles of exchange that lead to the promotion of regional charms nationwide, the creation of inbound and related populations, and regional revitalization. The Executive Committee, together with JTB, aims to develop this award not merely as a video contest, but as a platform for creating exchanges that promote regional charms and connect people with regions.

This award is more than just a video contest. It aims to be one of Japan's largest regional revitalization projects, where people nationwide express their pride and love for their hometowns, and that passion involves local governments, companies, and creators, generating new circles of regional revitalization. We hope that the "local love" from each of the 47 prefectures will gather and become a venue for the charms of Japan's regions to be rediscovered nationwide.

The application period is from July 1, 2026 (Wed) to October 4, 2026 (Sun) at 23:59. Anyone 13 years of age or older with a TikTok or Instagram account can participate. We look forward to your entries.

[What is the Kenmin Show Travel Award?]

"JTB Kenmin Show Travel Award 2026" is a participatory video contest that solicits short videos from a wide range of participants, including the general public, video creators, and local influencers, targeting all residents of the 47 prefectures of Japan, to determine the Grand Prix winner. A key feature of this award is that anyone can easily share their "favorite hometown" or "preferred region" through TikTok or Instagram, with applications accepted on free themes such as gourmet food, scenic views, unique individuals, and local culture. Additionally, a system is in place to recommend "someone you want to introduce your region!" or "people, things, or events to boast about in your hometown," allowing participants to enjoy the process itself as new regional charms spread nationwide through these recommendations.

[JTB Kenmin Show Travel Award 2026 Overall Outline]

Name: JTB Kenmin Show Travel Award 2026

Organizer: Kenmin Show Travel Award Executive Committee

Special Sponsorship: JTB Corporation

Official WEB: https://www.kenminshowtabi.com/

Official SNS: [TikTok] https://www.tiktok.com/@showtabi_24_

[Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/kenmin_show_tabi_award/

[X] https://x.com/showdrama_24/

[JTB Kenmin Show Travel Award 2026 Application Guidelines]

Eligibility: Anyone aged 13 or older

Those with a TikTok or Instagram account (individuals and groups are welcome),

Those who agree to the application terms and conditions

How to Apply: Post a video on TikTok or Instagram with the hashtags "#JTBケンミンショー旅アワード2026" and "#◯◯ Prefecture"

* ◯◯ Prefecture is the name of the prefecture related to the post * There is no limit to the number of submitted works

* For student creators, it is also recommended to include the hashtag "#学生クリエイター"

Content: Videos overflowing with "local pride"

Please freely express the unique charms of your hometown, such as gourmet food, spots, dialects, everyday occurrences, culture, customs, people, stories, etc.

Format: Publicly set on TikTok or Instagram, 30-60 seconds recommended

Application Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed) - October 4, 2026 (Sun) 23:59

Awards:

Award Name

Target Content

Prize

Number of Winners

Grand Prix - The pinnacle of local pride, perfected here! -

Highest rated video across all categories

1 million yen prize money

1 winner

Grand Prix - The pinnacle of local pride, perfected here! -

Videos conveying the charm of local gourmet food and food culture

100,000 yen prize money

1 winner

Category Award: Travel Spot Award

- Creating "desire to visit" beyond guidebooks! -

Videos conveying the charm of local hidden gems and scenic views

100,000 yen prize money

1 winner

Category Award: Local Peculiarities Award

- "Is this only in my prefecture!?" is the funniest! -

Videos featuring local peculiarities, dialects, culture, customs, and other hometown-specific content

100,000 yen prize money

1 winner

Category Award: Show Drama Award

- Stories are born from hometowns! -

Videos expressing local charms through drama and storytelling

100,000 yen prize money

1 winner

Category Award: Student Creator Award

- "Passion" and "Hometown" move the future! -

Entries by student creators (junior high school, high school, university, vocational school students)

Video production rights for JTB official social media accounts

1 winner

Category Award: Kenmin Posting King

- Unstoppable posting power, perfected here! -

Top participants with the highest number of posts

3,000 yen gift certificate

30 winners