High School Students Explore Social Issues and Present Business Ideas to Solve Them: High School Students' Dream AWARD 7 Entry Registration Begins

The Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Minna no Yume wo Kanaeru Kai (Ota-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter referred to as "the Foundation") has begun accepting entries for the "High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD 7" (https://school.yumeaward.jp/), an idea contest where high school students identify social issues they are highly interested in and propose solutions using the power of business.

■Purpose of the High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD

The Foundation has been holding the "Minna no Yume AWARD," a business plan contest to discover, nurture, and support entrepreneurs who solve social issues and contribute to the achievement of SDGs, for 16 consecutive years, with the sponsorship of various companies and the support of ministries such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Cabinet Office.

To broaden the base of social entrepreneurs who solve social issues, the "High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD" was launched in 2019, and this year marks its 7th iteration. The "High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD" aims not only to foster entrepreneurs but also to provide high school students with an opportunity to recognize their role in society through the exploration of social issues and to consider their future career paths.

■Features of the High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD

① Support for developing business ideas with online learning content, also serving as an opportunity to think about career paths

For entry, we offer the prior online learning content, the "Social Business Learning Program," free of charge to those who wish to participate. Through lecture videos and worksheets for each lecture, we support high school students in developing their business ideas. Students can learn about social issues and SDGs, and while encountering cases of various social entrepreneurs solving social issues, they can also learn the basics of business such as sales and differentiation strategies. Each video is approximately 20 minutes long and can also be utilized in classes such as comprehensive studies.

(https://social.yumeaward.jp/)

② Guidance from top-tier professionals such as charismatic entrepreneurs and leading presentation instructors

For the finalists proceeding to the "High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD 7" national competition, we provide business model guidance and presentation instruction from professional instructors, supporting them to present with confidence on the big stage.

③ An entry certificate for the "High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD 7" will be issued to all entrants

All high school students who complete the Social Business Learning Program and enter will receive an "High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD 7 Entry Certificate" that can be utilized for comprehensive selection (formerly AO admissions) and other purposes.

■ Voices from students who participated in Minna no Yume AWARD and faculty who used the learning program

Ø I was able to pass my desired path through AO admissions. Challenging the Dream Award itself became a major turning point for me. I feel that the High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD gave me an opportunity for significant personal growth. (Student, Private High School in Hiroshima Prefecture)

Ø Receiving advice and guidance from professionals in various fields and connecting with peers highly interested in business and social issues has truly been a treasure. Furthermore, my presentation skills have surely improved thanks to the presentation seminar. (Student, Prefectural High School in Miyagi Prefecture)

Ø In the process of organizing business ideas, learning about financial and business plans, and high school students creating their own plans, it is a wonderful opportunity to clearly imagine the path towards realizing their future dreams. I believe it's truly wonderful to combine one's passions with solving social issues. (Faculty Member, Private High School in Tokyo)

Ø Used in a class themed around discovering and effectively utilizing regional resources. It was undertaken as group work, linked with feedback to local companies, and resulted in internal campus presentations of business model proposals. (Faculty Member, Public High School Comprehensive Studies, Iwate Prefecture)

Ø When recommended to a 3rd-year high school student, the student used it individually. They were able to proactively think about how to engage with society in the future, and their career path became clear. I intend to recommend it from the first year of high school. (Faculty Member, Career Guidance, Private High School in Tokyo)

■ Digest video of the previous "High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD in Osaka-Kansai Expo"

The previous "High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD" was held at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. There were 2,464 applications from 396 high schools nationwide, and 10 finalists, who had passed the selection process, presented at the national competition. The digest video can be viewed below.

(https://www.youtube.com/live/cBV1mYqBCxA?si=92QKnq1Qxa15Evao)

【Grand Prix】 Ouga Hirado (3rd Year, Okinawa Prefectural Kibiyama High School)

■ Business Idea: "Shinryu Style" ~Towards a Society Where Everyone Can Dream~

■ Content: Aiming to revitalize Okinawa's economy, which has the worst rankings in Japan for prefectural income, non-regular employment rate, and child poverty rate. Focuses on traditional Okinawan crafts such as Bingata dyeing and Miyako Jofu fabric. During studies abroad in China, introducing Okinawan crafts received a great response, leading to the conviction that they are "not unsellable, but not reaching the right audience." Therefore, the initiative will handle inbound tourism and exports. Okinawan crafts will be promoted not only for their beauty but also for their narrative and rarity. Designers will be involved to create new, highly fashionable products. Sales will target wealthy individuals abroad through an internationally-oriented online shop.

【Runner-up Grand Prix】 Yohei Yashiro (2nd Year, Gifu Prefectural Ginan Technical High School)

■ Business Idea: Bringing exciting experiences to the world with robot contest kits made by industrial high school students!

■ Content: Through experiences such as being recognized in robot contests and going to Seattle for training, and volunteering to teach robot classes for elementary school students, the realization was made that real experiences, not smartphones, are the core of life. Hearing the president of a robot contest company say, "Commercial kits are expensive," led to the development of an inexpensive robot contest kit. While commercial kits typically cost over 5,000 yen, this kit can be produced with equivalent or greater functionality for a cost of 700 yen. This kit will be sold to robot contest organizers and elementary, junior high, and high school students who wish to participate in contests.

■ Event Outline

【Name】 High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD 7 (National Competition)

【Date】 Thursday, August 20, 2026

【Venue】 National Olympics Memorial Youth Center Main Hall

【Organizer】 Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Minna no Yume wo Kanaeru Kai

【Co-organizer】 General Incorporated Association Social Business Dream Partners

【Support】 Cabinet Office / Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications / Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (※ Previous event record. Sponsorship application process is currently underway.)

【Sponsorship】 36 companies (including some listed on the stock exchange) (planned)

■ Selection Schedule

June 7, 2026: Entry Deadline

June 12, 2026: Announcement of Preliminary Selection (document screening results), Acceptance for Secondary Selection (presentation video screening) Begins

June 28, 2026: Secondary Selection Deadline

Late July 2026 onwards: Issuance of High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD 7 Entry Certificates

July 9, 2026: Announcement of Secondary Selection Results / Determination of National Competition Participants (Finalists)

July 17, 2026 onwards: Finalist Follow-up Period

August 20, 2026 onwards: High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD 7 National Competition

■ Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Minna no Yume wo Kanaeru Kai

【Representative Director】 Miki Watanabe

【Organization Overview】 Started operations as an NPO in 2010. Established with the objective of contributing to the realization of a society overflowing with dreams and gratitude, where everyone has dreams, pursues them, polishes their abilities, and lives vibrantly. It was approved as a public interest incorporated foundation by the Cabinet Office in 2014. Centered around business contests like "Minna no Yume AWARD," which are sponsored by various companies and supported by government ministries such as the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the foundation conducts initiatives such as "WataMi Juku (Miki Watanabe Practical Management School)" and "High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD" to provide opportunities for people to have dreams and support their realization, thereby discovering, nurturing, and supporting social entrepreneurs.

【Organizer Website】 http://www.minnanoyume.org

【Minna no Yume AWARD】 https://yumeaward.jp/

【High School Students' Minna no Yume AWARD】 https://school.yumeaward.jp/

【Social Business Learning Program】https://social.yumeaward.jp

【WataMi Juku (Miki Watanabe Practical Management School)】 https://watamijuku.jp/