【Itoigawa, Ni】20th Itoigawa Jade Jewelry & Accessory Design Contest 2026

The 20th Itoigawa Jade Jewelry & Accessory Design Contest 2026 is now open for entries, inviting designers to create unique jewelry and accessories centered on jade from Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture.

Jade produced in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, has been deeply intertwined with people’s lives and spiritual culture since the Jomon period, passed down through the ages. As the forms of ornaments and values have evolved over time, the beauty and meaning of jade continue to captivate people unchanged. This theme asks how such jade can be conveyed to the next generation in the coming era. We seek jewelry and accessory designs that imagine future lifestyles and values, expressed with free creativity.

Necklaces, pendants, bracelets, brooches, pins, rings, hairpins, straps, keyholders, earrings, piercings, etc. Designs must primarily feature jade, using jewelry materials such as gemstones and precious metals, or accessory materials such as wood, glass, leather, resin, or ceramic (combinations allowed).

Open to all, but limited to residents of Japan or applicants from schools within Japan.

Free

• Sketch drawings, board color paintings, or computer-generated design drawings (must be colored). Actual product photos are also acceptable.
• Up to 3 entries (3 sheets) per person. Set jewelry counts as one entry.
• If drawn enlarged or reduced, include a copy of the design at actual size.
• Mark the top and bottom of the design on the back of the work.

• Jade must be used in sizes between 5mm and 20mm.
• Only original, unpublished designs are accepted.
• Size should generally be A4 (297mm x 210mm) drawn at actual size. Paper thickness should be 1mm to 2.5mm; thin paper should be mounted on thick paper.
• Submit a detailed drawing showing dimensions (size, thickness, etc.) and materials used.
• Do not include text explanations or the designer’s signature within the design drawing.
• Designs that are clearly impossible to manufacture will be excluded from selection. We expect designs that can be processed from jade and materials and commercialized.
• Since jade is a natural stone, each piece varies in color and pattern, and can be processed into various sizes and shapes. The example stone on the official website costs approximately 8,000 yen. Please select jade for the product based on color, size, and shape, and design so that the total cost of materials is within 20,000 yen.

• Fill out the entry form (attached) with required information and attach it to the back bottom of the work. Use one copy of each of the two types of entry forms per work; for multiple entries, make copies.
• Send by registered mail or courier to the submission address.
• Pack securely to protect the work and mark “Do Not Bend”.
※ Entry forms can be downloaded from the website.

Submission Address:
Itoigawa Jade Design Contest Executive Committee

〒941-8601
Niigata Prefecture, Itoigawa City, Teramachi 2-8-16
(Inside the Itoigawa Business Association)

September 1, 2026 (Tuesday) – November 25, 2026 (Wednesday) (Must arrive within this period.)

• Jade Jewelry Grand Prize: 1 winner, prize 80,000 yen
• Excellence Award: 2 winners, prize 30,000 yen each
• Jury Special Award: 1 winner, prize 10,000 yen
• Business Association Chairman’s Award (for middle/high school students): 2 winners, prize 5,000 yen in book vouchers each
※ If winning designs are commercialized, one finished product will be presented as a design usage fee.

After the award ceremony, results will be posted on the Itoigawa Business Association website. Selected winners will be notified by mail by the end of December 2026. The award ceremony will be held in Itoigawa City in late January 2027.

For details, refer to the organizer’s website.

Source: https://userweb.www.fsinet.or.jp/itoigawa/hisui_design.html