Olympiad · Hybrid
Japan's national earth and space science olympiad, which also selects the Japan team for the 2027 International Earth Science Olympiad, to be hosted in Matsue, Shimane. Entry is free and closes on 15 November 2026.
The Japan Earth Science Olympiad covers geology and solid earth, meteorology and oceanography, and astronomy and planetary science. The first preliminary is a multiple-choice online test, mostly based on the high school Earth Science Basic (地学基礎) textbook. About 200 students (junior high grade 1 to high school grade 2) move on to a mark-sheet second round, and about 60 (junior high grade 3 to high school grade 2) reach the final, a combined camp and exam with written questions and identification of rock, mineral and fossil specimens. Gold (10), silver (10) and bronze (20) awards are given. The 10 gold winners take part in English discussions and interviews, and 4 are chosen for the 2027 IESO hosted in Shimane. Some universities accept the results in comprehensive and school-recommendation admissions.