229 programs · 16 close in the next 14 days
Game company Cygames' creative contest for students, with divisions for character illustration, background illustration, 3DCG, games, video and non-genre works, plus a High School Division that automatically covers every entry from high school students.
Leadership and volunteering · In person · Japan
公益財団法人AFS日本協会 (AFS Intercultural Programs Japan)
AFS Japan's one-school-year high school exchange with a host family abroad; the additional selection round for 2027 departures is now accepting applications on a first-come basis.
Competition · Hybrid · Tokyo, Japan
株式会社マイナビ (Mynavi Corporation)
A free business idea contest for high school students run by Mynavi, in which teams of 2-4 choose one theme set by a sponsoring company and propose a business idea, competing up to a final in Tokyo.
Competition · Hybrid · Japan
認定NPO法人金融知力普及協会 (Association for the Promotion of Financial Literacy)
A national finance and economics quiz championship for high school students in teams of two, with prefectural regional rounds (or an online round) leading to a national final in Tokyo in February 2027.
Competition · Online · Japan
東北工業大学 建築学部 (Tohoku Institute of Technology, Faculty of Architecture)
Tohoku Institute of Technology's free design contest in which junior high and high school students make an A3 presentation board introducing a favourite town, place, building or piece of furniture, optionally adding their own design proposal for the future.
Competition · Hybrid · Kyoto, Japan
特定非営利活動法人全国教室ディベート連盟 北陸支部・近畿支部・中国・四国支部・九州支部 (National Association for Debate in Education, NADE – Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku-Shikoku and Kyushu branches)
A one-day Japanese-language debate tournament run by four western branches of NADE, the body behind Debate Koshien, with a high school (A) and junior high (B) division. Kinki teams debate on site in Kyoto; teams from other western districts join online.
Scholarship · In person · Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan
UWC ISAK Japan
UWC ISAK Japan, the UWC boarding high school in Karuizawa, accepts direct applications from 3rd-year junior-high students for Grade 10 entry in 2027, with need-based, non-repayable financial assistance from partial to full (about 70% of students receive aid). Applications and aid requests close on 1 December 2026.
Competition · Hybrid · Japan
SDGs QUEST みらい甲子園 各エリア大会実行委員会（企画・総合プロデュース：未来教育株式会社） (SDGs QUEST Mirai Koshien regional executive committees; produced by Mirai Kyoiku Inc.)
A nationwide inquiry-learning contest in which teams of high school students propose SDGs action ideas for local issues, judged in 24 regional tournaments across all 47 prefectures.
Leadership and volunteering · Hybrid · Japan
認定NPO法人カタリバ (NPO Katariba)
A free nationwide event run by NPO Katariba where high school students present and reflect on projects they started themselves, through regional Summits leading to a national Summit in March 2027.
Research program · Hybrid · Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
一般社団法人日本物理学会 (The Physical Society of Japan)
A national research presentation event where junior high, high school and kosen students present original physics research to physicists, run by the Physical Society of Japan.
Competition · Online · Japan
ファッション甲子園実行委員会 (Fashion Koshien Executive Committee; Hirosaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
High school students in Japan can submit an illustration or computer graphic to become the key visual for the posters and publicity of Fashion Koshien 2027; entry is free.
Competition · Hybrid · Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
アーツカレッジ高校生イラストコンテスト審査委員会（アーツカレッジヨコハマ） (Arts College Yokohama High School Illustration Contest Committee)
An illustration contest for current high school students run by Arts College Yokohama, a vocational school for IT, games and design; the 2026 theme is 'Road' (michi), with analog and digital categories.