logo:KAO International Environment Painting Contest for ChildrenKAO International Environment Painting Contest for Children

Illustration of a museum where people are viewing artworks from the 16th contest displayed on the walls.

Illustration of a museum where people are viewing artworks from the 16th contest displayed on the walls.

Illustration of a museum where people are viewing artworks from the 16th contest displayed on the walls.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

An illustration of a museum setting containing illustrations of people looking at real paintings displayed on the wall.

logo: KAO Internationnal Environment Paiting Contest for Children

logo: KAO Internationnal Environment Paiting Contest for Children

logo: KAO Internationnal Environment Paiting Contest for Children

View Entry Guidelines for the 17th Contest

Children’s paintings can change the future

We hope that children’s paintings reflecting their thoughts on the environment and the future of our planet will inspire people worldwide to take action toward sustainable lifestyles.

Four children engaged in creative activities such as drawing and painting, including sketching on paper, holding art tools, and painting on a canvas.

Exploring environmental issues, together

Illustration of two fish in the water with a blue background.

Water 

Illustration of a tiger and a seagull with an orange background.

Wildlife

Illustration with a pink background of the recycling symbol next to various waste products including a laptop, a bottle, and a cup.

Waste

Illustration of Earth with a teal background.

Carbon emissions

Illustration of two trees with a green background.

Forestry

Each submission supports a charitable donation

Illustration of hands holding up three paintings from which arrows point to the Earth. The lines of the arrows contain small red hearts.

We want every child to understand the positive impact of their art. That’s why, for each submission we receive, we donate ¥50 to an environmental conservation initiative in one of the three categories below, selected by the child. We hope the children’s wishes, expressed through their paintings, will help all of us take a step toward a better future.

Wildlife protection

An orangutan holds onto a tree branch suspended above the ground.

Saving endangered wildlife and
conserving nature 

Logo containing a panda and the organization’s name, WWF.

WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. All rights reserved.

Greening and forest conservation

A desert landscape containing green, shrub-like plants.

Preventing desertification in the
Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan

Logo containing a blue line encircling two dots in the appearance of a smiling face above the organization’s name, OISCA.

Marine litter and waste leakage prevention measures

A group of people standing outside next to a large pile of garbage collected in yellow waste bags.

Solving marine pollution with
research and technology

Logo containing a drawn tufted puffin in flight above the organization’s name, Pirika.

Thanks to young artists and generous donors, the 16th contest raised 1,258,150 yen in donations! 

Award-winning artworks will be exhibited worldwide

Through children’s paintings, we hope to share their messages and encourage people everywhere to lead a sustainable lifestyle.

Pictures of exhibition venues,showcasing children’s art.

Hachioji City Global Warming Conservation Center (Tokyo, Japan)

Pictures of exhibition venues;a large group of adults and children gathered around the paintings.

Eco Messe  Kasugai (Aichi, Japan)

Pictures of exhibition venues,showcasing children’s art.

Kirei Lifestyle event (Taiwan)

Every message becomes a donation!

Scan the 2D barcode at the exhibition to share your support and comments, and we’ll donate ¥1 for each message.

A woman holding a smartphone next to a speech bubble showing two red hearts and an arrow pointing to a smaller bubble containing the number “1.”

Over 190,000 entries from 100 countries 

The children‘s paintings express their thoughts on diverse lifestyles and the environment around the world.
They are full of energy and wishes for the global environment and the future.

Separate photographs of twenty-four children holding colorful illustrations containing the word, “future,” written in various languages.

From Submission to Award-Winning Artwork

Five sequential illustrations depicting the contest process, showing a painting of two fish underwater progressing from submission, to admission alongside other paintings, to judging, to award, and finally to exhibition in a gallery.

Five sequential illustrations depicting the contest process, showing a painting of two fish underwater progressing from submission, to admission alongside other paintings, to judging, to award, and finally to exhibition in a gallery.

Five sequential illustrations depicting the contest process, showing a painting of two fish underwater progressing from submission, to admission alongside other paintings, to judging, to award, and finally to exhibition in a gallery.

Past Winning Works

The 16th Kao Kirei Grand Prize:

Magic Weaver of Environmental Protection

Yeung Anya Lee (6)

Portrait photo of Yeung Anya Lee, winner of the 2025 painting contest.

My mother always told me, “Donate your old clothes to people in need,” because when unsold clothes pile up, they harm the environment. I want to say, “Let’s donate old clothes and protect the Earth’s future.” The “Earth Girl" in this painting stands for the many types of used clothing. She is weaving a rainbow cloth to keep the forests and birds beautiful.

A colorful children’s illustration of a girl wearing glasses in a forest, spreading a large rainbow-colored dress decorated with musical notes. There is a bird and a nest in the tree above her.

Grand prize work of the 15th contest

Grand prize work of the 14th contest

Grand prize work of the 13th contest

Grand prize work of the 12th contest

Wallpaper Available Now

Display beautiful artwork from the contest as your PC or phone wallpaper. 

Wallpaper illustration of a room with a yellow sofa and houseplants, featuring a large framed lotus flower painting that won a special award in the 14th contest.

Children’s wishes, in paintings 

Share your painting, express your ideas

Unauthorized copying or reprinting of text, images, etc. on this site is prohibited.

Stay up-to-Date on the winning works and exhibition info

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