- The video must communicate the appeals of Japan through visuals.
- There are no requirements regarding the methods of communication, such as language used, use of subtitles/sound, etc., but the video must be intended for foreign audiences (foreign viewers).
- It must be a video that was first published or released no earlier than 2022.
- The video should be around five minutes long.
- Submissions that received awards in past editions of the CJPF Awards or Cool Japan Video Contest will not be accepted.
- The submission must be from the creator or rights holder of the video. - Prior to submission, applicants are responsible for obtaining the consent of the relevant creator, etc.
*For series consisting of multiple videos, each video should be submitted separately.
*Videos that are scheduled for release after the submission deadline (Tuesday, September 30) may also be submitted as long as the data is the final version.
*Videos that are no longer available to the public may also be submitted.

- The creator or rights holder of the video.
- Applicants will be accepted irrespective of their affiliation with companies, government agencies, local public bodies, organizations, schools, individuals, and so on.
- Multiple submissions are allowed by the same applicant.
- Videos about business initiatives submitted to the Project category may also be submitted to the Video category.

Selections will be made by a panel of judges consisting of experts from CJPF and foreign members with a deep understanding of Japan’s appeal. Judging criteria will include the specific aspect of Japan’s appeal featured in the theme; the appropriateness of the selected target countries, regions, linguistic groups, and audiences, as well as the methods used for communication and dissemination; the creativity and execution of the expressions and production styles used to convey the theme; and the effectiveness in inspiring empathy toward Japan’s appeal.
Additional points will be awarded to videos that generate synergy through cross-category and cross-regional collaboration.

We plan to award outstanding videos with the Grand Prize, Runner-up Grand Prize, and more.

※ Awards announcement and presentation: scheduled for February or March 2026 (TBD).
※ The awards are subject to change depending on the number of submissions and the judging results.
※ Receiving an award is contingent upon the recipient’s cooperation with the public relations activities of the CJPF.
※ If any individuals associated with an award-winning video are found to have engaged in acts that violate laws or regulations, offend public order and morals, or otherwise risk damaging the dignity or value of the winning video, the award may be revoked.

You can watch the videos that have won awards in the CJPF AWARD video category so far.

August 6–September 30, 2025

Please apply via the application form on the CJPF Awards 2026 website.
Video Category Application Form >

- The project must feature the appeal of Japan
- The project must be intended for foreign individuals (or there must be plans for it to be for foreign individuals), whether through overseas expansion, inbound tourism initiatives, or communication and public relations targeting people overseas. *Projects that are currently being developed for domestic audiences but are in progress toward overseas expansion or inbound tourism are also eligible.
- The project must have been implemented in or after 2022. *Projects launched prior to 2022 but continuing to run to this day are also eligible to apply.
- Both commercial projects involving sales and non-profit projects such as government publicity initiatives are eligible to apply.
- Projects that received awards in past editions of the CJPF Awards or the Cool Japan Matching Award will not be accepted. However, the same applicant may submit a different project.
- While collaboration across different categories, regions, public and private sectors, generations, etc. is not a requirement, we encourage the submission of projects that have benefited from such collaborations. If such a collaboration occurred in your project, please include the name of the partner and details of how the collaboration was effective.

- The project lead or member involved in the project.
- Applicants will be accepted irrespective of their affiliation with companies, government agencies, local public bodies, organizations, schools, individuals, and so on.
- Multiple submissions are allowed by the same applicant.
- Business initiatives related to submissions in the Video category may also be submitted to the Project category.

Selections will be made by a panel of judges consisting of experts from the CJPF and foreign members with a deep understanding of Japan’s appeal. Judging criteria will include the creativity and effectiveness of initiatives to enhance the experiential value of Japan’s appeal; the appropriateness of the target selection and methods for overseas audiences and inbound tourists; the achievements (or expected potential) in expanding the number of participants and fans; and the sustainability and potential for further development of the project.
Additional points will be awarded to projects that generate synergy through cross-category and cross-regional collaboration.

We plan to award outstanding projects with the Grand Prize, Runner-up Grand Prize, and more.
※ Awards announcement and presentation: scheduled for February or March 2026 (TBD).
※ The awards are subject to change depending on the number of submissions and the judging results.
※ Receiving an award is contingent upon the recipient’s cooperation with the public relations activities of the CJPF.
※ If any individuals associated with an award-winning project are found to have engaged in acts that violate laws or regulations, offend public order and morals, or otherwise risk damaging the dignity or value of the winning project, the award may be revoked.

You can see the projects that have won awards in the CJPF AWARD project category so far.

August 6–September 30, 2025

Please apply via the application form on the CJPF Awards 2026 website.

Submissions to the Project category >