1. Date & Time
Saturday, November 21, 2026
13:00 – 16:00 (CET / tentative)
Note: The schedule is subject to change depending on the number of applicants.
2. Venue
The Japan Foundation, Budapest — Library
3. Aims
・To provide diverse Japanese language learners in Central and Eastern Europe with an opportunity to use Japanese.
・To foster mutual understanding between the people of Japan and Central and Eastern European countries through presentations.
4.Eligibility(e.g. to enter a competition）
(1) Contestants must not be a Japanese native speaker
(2) Contestants must be a resident of one the following 13 countries where:
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Contestants can apply as an individual or as a group
5. How to Participate
Participants may choose one of the following two entry categories. Anyone meeting the eligibility requirements under Section 4 may enter through either method. Please be sure to read all notes and guidelines carefully before applying.
(1) In-Person Presentation
Present live in front of the judges and audience at the venue on the day of the contest.
(2) Video Submission
Record or create a presentation video in advance using a camera, smartphone, or other device, and submit the video data to enter.
Important Notes:
-Screening: Entries submitted via video will be screened at the venue in front of the judges and audience on the contest day, and judged on-site.
-Attendance: Video submission participants are not required to attend the event in Budapest.
-Travel Expenses: In-person participation, participants must arrange and cover all travel and related expenses themselves. The Japan Foundation, Budapest does not provide financial or logistical support for travel.
6. Number of Participants / Entries
In-Person Category: 10 entries
(If applications exceed 10 entries, a preliminary screening will be held to select the 10 finalists)
Video Category: 5 entries
(If applications exceed 5 entries, a preliminary screening will be held to select the 5 videos shown at the venue)
7. Presentation Theme
"Propose a Tour Plan to Japan"
Imagine you work for a travel agency and create a presentation introducing a new tour plan to Japan.
There are no restrictions on the duration of the tour or the budget. However, your proposal should be as realistic and attractive as possible, clearly specifying the target demographic, purpose of the tour, and other relevant details.
*Please note that fictional destinations or unrealistic transportation methods may result in a deduction of points.
8. Presentation Time Limit
5 minutes (applies to both In-Person and Video entries)
-For video entries, the total length of the video must not exceed 5 minutes.
-For in-person presentations, there will be a brief feedback session by the judges following each presentation. This is not a Q&A session and will not affect scoring, so no special preparation is required.
9. Group Size
Presentations may be delivered individually or in groups. Groups are limited to a maximum of 3 people for both in-person and video submissions.
10. Presentation Format & Equipment
Participants are free to choose their presentation methods and media (e.g., presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, paper posters, video editing software).
Venue Equipment Provided:
-Laptop computer
-Projector (HDMI and RGB/VGA connections supported)
-Whiteboard (with markers and magnets)
-Microphone
Note for In-Person Participants using Presentation Software:
If you plan to use software like Microsoft PowerPoint, you must either bring your own laptop or send your presentation file in advance. You will not be allowed to transfer files via USB flash drive to the Center’s computer on the day of the event. Connecting smartphones directly to the projector is also not supported.
11. Video Submission Rules & Guidelines
-The video must be presented in Japanese and align with the designated theme.
-The presentation and content must be the applicant’s original, unpublished work.
-The length must be within 5 minutes. (Exceeding 5 minutes will result in a point deduction).
-The video must include Japanese commentary/narration. Both spoken audio and any on-screen text must be in Japanese. Videos lacking Japanese narration will be deemed ineligible.
-File format: MP4 (standard). File size: Under 1 GB.
-Submitted videos will be uploaded to the Center’s website and YouTube channel, and shared across the Center’s official Facebook accounts and related pages.
Important Notices & Terms of Agreement
Please read the following carefully. By applying, you agree to these terms and must check the "I Agree" box on the application form after reviewing the organizer's pledge.
Copyright & Rights: While copyright of the submitted work remains with the applicant, the Center and organizations authorized by the Center reserve the right to use the submitted works free of charge without prior permission. Applicants agree not to exercise moral or proprietary rights against the Center regarding the submitted work.
Intellectual Property: Applicants guarantee that the submitted work (including all audio, footage, photos, and text used) does not infringe upon third-party copyrights, portrait rights, trademarks, or any other intellectual property or legal rights. Should any dispute or claim arise from a third party, the applicant shall resolve it at their own expense and responsibility, holding the Center completely blameless.
Disqualification: Content that infringes on third-party rights, defames individuals or organizations, violates laws or public standards, or is otherwise deemed inappropriate by the Center will be disqualified. Disqualification may occur even after award announcements.
Consent: Submitting an application constitutes full agreement to all terms outlined in this notice.
12. How to Apply
Please read the instructions below carefully before completing the application form located at the link provided.
Application Notes:
-In-Person Participants:
Your presentation does not need to be completely finished at the time of application (November 1). However, you must provide a Title and a Summary/Outline of your presentation. If applications exceed 10 entries, selection will be based on this summary. We strongly advise planning your content thoroughly before submitting. Changes to the title or summary will not be accepted after submission.
-Video Participants:
Your video must be fully completed by the application deadline (November 1). Upload the video file to your personal (or group representative's) Google Drive, set the sharing permissions so that the Center can download it, and paste the access link into the application form.
(If you wish to use a cloud storage service other than Google Drive, please contact us in advance via the contact details in Section 15).
Application Form:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/di2G5XVdpB
Application Deadline: Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 23:59 (CET)
13. Evaluation & Judging Criteria
Judges will score entries based on the criteria below to select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
(1) In-Person Category
-Content: Clarity and persuasiveness of the proposal; logical presentation structure.
-Performance: Delivery style (voice volume, intonation) and stage presence (eye contact, gestures, minimal reliance on notes).
-Visual Aids: Quality, clarity, and consideration for the audience/judges in presentation materials.
(2) Video Category
-Content: Clarity and persuasiveness of the proposal; logical presentation structure.
-Communication: Effective delivery going beyond simply reading a script (appropriate pacing, pauses, intonation).
-Visual Aids: Quality, clarity, and consideration for the audience in presentation materials.
14. Prizes
(1) In-Person Category
1st Place: Tablet PC (Lenovo Idea Tab 11)
Runners-up (2nd place onwards) will receive travel-related goods and prizes.
(2) Video Category
1st Place: Hybrid Instant Camera (instax mini Evo)
Runners-up (2nd place onwards) will receive Japanese language learning materials and prizes.
*Depending on the prize items and shipping destination, international shipping outside Hungary may not be possible. In such cases, prizes may be substituted with alternatives.
15. Enquiries
Contact: Nikolenyi Gergely (Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00 in Japanese, Hungarian and English)
Email: Gergely_Nikolenyi@jpf.go.jp