Welcome! {ioc_countries2[1]} Karuta Project
- The project is to create a traditional Japanese card game ‘Karuta’ on the theme of {ioc_countries2[1]}.
- We offer creative workshops & contests to help people create karuta cards of {ioc_countries2[1]}.
- The aim of the project is to promote mutual understanding between {ioc_countries2[1]} and Japan through karuta.
What’s karuta?
- Karuta is a Japanese card game which is to match texts to the picture cards.
- The first letter of each text is printed on the corner of the matching picture card.
- This is a bilingual game so you can play in English and Japanese.
- We plan to create cards in other languages.
How to play karuta
- Karuta is a game of speed. A card reader reads aloud a text.
- And players listen to it and look for the matching picture card.
- The first player to touch the card can take it.
- The winner is the player with the most cards at the end of game.
Invitation to Creative Karuta Award
- As part of this Project we would like to invite you to enter the Creative Karuta Award by submitting your drawing and writing of ‘Charms of {ioc_countries2[1]}’.
- This is an international contest to create a set of karuta cards about 2020 Tokyo Olympic countries/regions including {ioc_countries2[1]}.
- Open to anybody from children to adults.
- The prize is karuta cards printed with the winning works.

What to submit
- Drawing & Writing of something famous in {ioc_countries2[1]}
For example
{wpi_topic_1_eng[1]}
{wpi_topic_2_eng[1]}
{wpi_topic_3_eng[1]}
{wpi_topic_4_eng[1]}
{wpi_topic_5_eng[1]}
{wpi_topic_6_eng[1]}
{wpi_topic_7_eng[1]}
{wpi_topic_8_eng[1]}
{wpi_topic_9_eng[1]}
{wpi_topic_10_eng[1]}
Example of karuta cards on {ioc_countries2[1]}.
{wpi_koza_explain_1_eng[1]}
-
- Drawing
- – Use white paper of A4 size or smaller
– Use any art materials and methods - Writing
- – Choose English or Japanese.
– Use 3 to 12 words in English
– Use 5 – 20 syllables in Japanese
– must be connected with your picture
How to enter
- Send the ‘Entry Form’, picture and, ‘Writing Sheet’ to Tokyo office
- Deadline: 31st March 2020.
- Result announcement: May 2020. Award Ceremony: June 2020
- Read through ‘Entry Guidelines’ before your entry.
Entry Guidelines
What is Creative Karuta Award?
- This is an international contest to call for pictures & writing for creating a new set of a traditional Japanese card game called ‘Karuta’.
- The prize winners will receive karuta cards with the winning works printed on each card.
- It aims to promote karuta globally through the contest.
Theme
- Creative Karuta Award was started to create karuta cards themed around Tokyo Olympic countries (which number is 206) and to hold an international Karura game Championship in 2020.
- This is the final contest to complete ‘206 countries karuta’ set so we will select and award 206 works representing 206 countries/regions.
Who can take part?
- Open to everybody worldwide from children to adults.
- Entries from individuals or schools will be accepted.
Age Category
The total 20 works, at least 2 works from the following each age group, will be selected for this category award.
- 7 years old or younger
- 8-11 years old
- 12-15 years old
- 16-19 years old
- 20 years old or older
Country Category
- All entry works will be also judged by the subject’s country.
- The only one (1) work per one (1) country will be selected so 206 works in total will be selected for this category award.
- Please note that all entries to the Awards in last few years will be included for this category’s selection
- This selection is made separately from the one for the age category but some works may be selected for the both category.
Timeline
- Deadline: 31st March 2020
- Result Announcement: Early May 2020
- Award Ceremony: June 2020, Tokyo
Entry Work
- Submit a pair of picture and writing (called ‘Work’) representing the subject freely chosen by the applicant.
- Multiple entries by the same applicant will be accepted.
Subject to draw and write
- Wonderful nature, rich culture in your chosen country.
- For example buildings, places, foods, festivals, sports and natural scenes.
- It must be something which is well-known, represents the chosen country.
Picture
- Use white paper less than or equal to A4 in size.
- Any art media, materials and method can be used.
- The picture must be the unreleased, original work created by the applicant himself/herself.
- No computer generated images will be accepted.
- No picture showing copyrighted images such as characters from books, movies will be accepted.
Writing/Sentence
- Choose a language, English or Japanese.
- Write with 3 to 12 words if you choose English.
- Write in Japanese with 5 to 20 syllables.
- Your writing should include words which serves as a clue to find the matching picture.
- Writing can be assisted by another person such as your family or teacher.
Judging for Age category
- The entry work will be judged by creative karuta experts including Ms. Mikiko Haraguchi (Vice chairman, Japan Kyodo Karuta Association).
- The judges would like to see Works with a charm that makes them feel like seeing the real ones.
- The total 20 Works, at least 2 Works from each category, will be selected.
Judging for Country category
- All entry work will be also judged by experts in 206 countries/regions.
- The judges expect to see the works really representing the chosen country.
Prizes for Age Category
- A set of Karuta cards with a winning work printed on each card.

Prizes for Country Category
- A pair of sentence and picture card with the winner’s work printed on each card. (no karuta pack)

Results Announcement
- By early May 2020 the only winners will be notified of the results by email.
- The results will be also announced on Karuta 2020 website.
- All winning entries will be displayed at the Award Ceremony held in Tokyo, June 2020.
- All prize winners will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony and to be presented with their prizes.
- The winners who can’t attend the ceremony will receive the prizes by post after the ceremony.

Entry Conditions
- Regardless whether winning or not all rights in the entry works belong to FROM JAPAN Institute.
- All entry works won’t be returned.
- The entry works may be used partially or modified when we print Karuta cards. For example we may use only the picture or edit writing.
- Regardless whether winning or not your entry work may be published on our websites, SSN and printed materials.
Handling of Private information
- Any private information which we collect for the Creative Karuta Award 2019-20 will be only used for this contest.
- Usage purposes: confirming the entry information, notifying the contest results, sending the prizes and conducting the contest smoothly.
- Disclosure of personal information to the third parties: With the only winner’s consent of printing their name on karuta card, their name will be provided with the printing contractor.
- Except for this case any personal information won’t be disclosed to third parties without permission of the applicant.
How to enter: Individual
- Printforms
See Entry Form
Fill in the forms
How to fill in
- Draw/paint a picture
- PastetheWriting Sheeton the backside of thepicture
How to paste
- Sendthe forms, picture
How to enter: School
- Printthe forms
See the Entry Form
- Fill inthe forms
How to fill in
- Draw/paint a picture
- PastetheWriting Sheeton the backside of thepicture
How to paste
- Send the forms, picture
The last contest’s works
Contact
Karuta 2020 Project team
3-4-45 Shibakubo-cho, Nishitokyo, Tkyo 188-0014
Phone: +intl-81-(0)42-439-5445