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About Contest Entry
Theme: “Let’s make our environment sustainable, together!”
What can we do to protect the precious global environment for the future, so that all living things can live together? Please express your thoughts and ideas freely in your painting.
Entry Guide
Please apply by or under the supervision of a guardian, or a teacher (at a school / art class).
Entry period
From Tuesday, April 22 through Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 23:59 JST.
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* JST applies to the description of the date and time
Eligibility
Any child (aged 6 through 15 years old) from anywhere in the world.
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* As of the end of August 2025
Requirements for the work
- Picture size：(min) 271mm×392mm ~ A3 (297×420mm) ~ (max) 392mm×542mm
- Medium：Any means of direct drawing, painting, or coloring - crayon, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic or oil paint, ink, wood or linocut printing, etc. - is allowed.
- Creation：Only one entry per individual is allowed, and only previously unexhibited work created by the applicant him/herself will be accepted.
- Important notice：Please note that the following works are not eligible to be reviewed.
- Works with pasted elements (collage) / works painted on canvas / digital art works and works with using AI
- Works containing text such as slogans or catchphrases / works containing specific characters, logos and names of individuals, companies, products, etc.
- Works that are very similar to existing artworks, or determined by Kao as likely to infringe on the rights of third parties
- Works created jointly with third parties
How to apply
When applying an entry form, personal information should be filled out by guardian or with a consent of guardian.
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Fill in all required information in bold frame on the designated ‘Entry form’ and paste it to the center of the back of your work, then send it to the address for application. Entries without an entry form will not be accepted.
Download and use the Entry form shown below.
- Send it in a flat envelope, inserting cardboard or something firm to ensure it does not bend during shipping.
- Applying a work attached on e-mail is not accepted.
For detailed information on submission, please refer to the Contest entry guide below.
Send entry works to
Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children Office
8-3-29 Tajima, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-0837, JAPAN
Direct contact for inquiry
(Phone available only on working days from 10:00-17:00 JST, unavailable on weekends and national holidays)
Schedule
Tuesday, April 22,2025: Start accepting entries
Tuesday, September 2,2025 23:59 JST.: Deadline for all entries
- Entries must be received by the deadline.
December 2025: Announcement of winners
- The contest results will be announced on this website, and the contest office will contact prizewinners or their schools/art classes directly.
Late December 2025: Announcement of winning works
Prizes
Kao * Kirei Grand Prize: 1 winner
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* Kirei: The Japanese word “kirei” describes something that is clean, well-ordered and beautiful. For Kao, this concept of kirei not only describes appearance, but also attitude- to seek to create beauty for oneself, and also for other people and for the natural world around us.
Kao Special Prize: 8 winners
Jury’s Special Prize (includes Employee Special Prize): 8 winners
Honorable Mention: 15 winners
Group Prize: 5 groups
- Group Prizes are awarded to 5 schools or art classes who submit the most entries.
- The number of awards in each category may be subject to change depending on the number of entries.
Announcements
By December 2025, the contest office will contact prizewinners or their schools/art classes directly.
The contest results will be also announced on this website.
Juries
Chair:
Mr. Fumikazu Masuda, Design consultant, President, open house inc.
Juries:
Ms. Sumiko Okubo, Artist
Mr. Kei Matsushita, Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts
Mr. Leonhard Bartolomeus, Curator, Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media
Ms. Ayami, Recycled materials Artist
Mr. Atsushi Tanaka, Director, Kao Eco-Lab Museum, Kao Corporation
Mr. Naoto Katahira, Vice President, Creative, Kao Corporation
Conditions of Entry
- The applicant have obtained the consent of his/her parent or guardian.
- Original paintings will not be returned. Prize-winning works may be used or published with being edited or partially modified for corporate communications and for the sales promotion based on the concept of sustainability of environmentally friendly products produced by Kao or its affiliates. In that case, the size and color of the works may differ slightly from the original one. And also, we may use winners’ information and submitted portrait photograph as well.
- Provided personal information will be used for the operation and management of the contest including the award announcement to winners and public relations activities both inside and outside the company. We will not provide personal information to third parties without the consent of applicants for any purpose other than those stated above.
- This page contains a summary of the application terms and conditions. In the event of a discrepancy between this summary and the application terms and conditions, the complete version of the application terms and conditions will prevail in all cases. The complete version is provided below.
Handling of Personal Information
Kao abide by the following Kao Group Privacy Policy. Please familiarize yourself with these contents before using this website and/or submitting an entry to the contest.