Scholarship

The International TAKIFUJI Art Award

About Award

To the students of the art who are torchbearer of culture

We set up “The TAKIFUJI Art Award” scholarship program in 1980. Our aim is to support artistically talented young students who would contribute to the future of the art and culture. Presently the scholarship draws students from 13 domestic and 12 foreign institutions-5 from Asia, and 7 from Europe and USA. The scholarship provides 300,000 yen a year to each recipient. Over the last 45 years we’ve provided support to 891 students, some of whom have become leaders in the art world.

History

Foster young artists

As The Association promote public art all over japan, we set up “The TAKIFUJI Art Award” in 1980 to foster young talents who could contribute to the future of public art. Since we extended our invitations to overseas students in 1991, we changed the name to “The International TAKIFUJI Art Award.” Presently, the scholarship draws students from 12 foreign institutions as well as 13 domestic colleges. Over the last 45 years (by 2024), we have provided support for a total of 891 young art students from Japan and abroad. Some have become leaders in the art world. Among them, sculptor AOKI Noe, a 1st year grantee; contemporary artist; NARA Yoshitomo, a 5th year grantee; contemporary artist, YANOBE Kenji, a 9th year grantee; sculptor, ODANI Motohiko, a 15th year grantee.

Achievement (Until 2024, 45th award)

The universities above are correct as of October 2024(Universities which subject to the application qualification revised and add depend on the year)
Total of winners	891 (45th, 23 students)
Total Scholarship	259.2 million yen ($1.71million)
Universities	Japan: Aichi University of the Arts / Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts / Kanazawa College of Art / Kyoto City University of Arts / Kyoto University of the Arts/ Joshibi University of Art and Design / Tama Art University / Tokyo University of the Arts / Tokyo Zokei University / Tohoku University of Art and Design / Nihon University / Hiroshima City University / Musashino Art University Abroad: Ewha Womans University, College of Arts & Design, South Korea / Hongik University, South Korea / Seoul National University, South Korea / Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, China / Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore / École Nationale Supérieure Des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France / Berlin University of the Arts, Germany / Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany / University of the Arts London, UK / University College London, UK / Art Center College of Design, USA / Pratt Institute, USA

The 45th Award Gallery 2024

Prize for Excellence / Grand Prize
AGATSUMA Ryo　Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
[rhino sweet dreams]
Thank you very much for selecting me as the winner of the Excellence Award and the Grand Prix. This piece was made using a metalworking technique called modified one-piece printing. I created this piece with the image of the warm expressions and gentle gestures that rhinos sometimes show, as well as the relaxed way they look, and the moment when you want to stroke them as if you were putting a child to sleep. I would like to continue learning various things and create pieces that are full of my own personal preferences.
Prize for Excellence / International Grand Prize
Iris DAIBERT　Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany
[9921395]
I am deeply honored to receive both the Prize of Excellence and the International Grand Prize. While I prefer not to provide detailed explanations of my artwork, I will say that it explores the themes of loss and the unseen forces that intertwine with our reality—forces that we often must yield to, despite our desire for control. Thank you for this incredible recognition!
Prize for Excellence
NAKAHARA Kanako　Aichi University of the Arts, Japan
[No man is an island.]
Prize for Excellence
SATO Kei　Kanazawa College of Art, Japan
[Myself]
Prize for Excellence
JURI Noa　Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan
[Destined meeting]
Prize for Excellence
IWAMOTO Ayana　Kyoto University of the Arts, Japan
[train]
Prize for Excellence
ISHII Moe　Joshibi University of Art and Design, Japan
[I want to see everything about you]
Prize for Excellence
HSU Hsinjung　Tama Art University, Japan
[Circle]
Prize for Excellence
SUN Jianai　Tokyo Zokei University, Japan
[slough]
Prize for Excellence
TAKEUCHI Taiki　Tohoku University of Art and Design, Japan
[“ENBU (Flame Dance)” from AKUTAGAWA Ryunosuke’s “JIGOKU-HEN”]
Prize for Excellence
KITANI Akane　Nihon University, Japan
[go with the flow]
Prize for Excellence
HAKUTO Shogo　Hiroshima City University, Japan
[landscape]
Prize for Excellence
SASAKI Rio　Musashino Art University, Japan
[Journey & People]
Prize for Excellence
JU Hyobin　Ewha Womans University, College of Arts & Design, South Korea
[Summer is go]
Prize for Excellence
YI Chao　Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University, China
[A Backward-looking animal]
Prize for Excellence
Jonathan LIU　Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore
[Your Eyes Betray What Burns Inside You]
Prize for Excellence
Laure PINARD　École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France
[Untitled]
Prize for Excellence
Sophia METZGER　Art Center College of Design, USA
[Flamingo Estate Wellness : Natural Embrace Company]
Special Jury Prize
EGUCHI Kyoka　Kanazawa College of Art, Japan
[MICHI]
Special Jury Prize
NOGUCHI Kakeru　Tama Art University, Japan
[communicate]
Special Jury Prize
SHIBUYA Mizuki　Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
[Who saves me ?]
Special Jury Prize
NA Songhee　Seoul National University, South Korea
[Pa-rang (blue waves) no.2]
Special Jury Prize
Raphael FISCHER-DIESKAU　Berlin University of the Arts, Germany
[Artificial sun gives superficial compliments]

Juries

MIYATA Ryohei

Metal Craft Artist / Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of the Arts / Director General, the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition
OTSU Eibin

Painter /
Member of The Japan Art Academy
HIBINO Katsuhiko

Artist /
President,Tokyo University of the Arts
YUZAWA Sachiko

Professor, Tama Art University
TANADA Koji

Sculptor /
Visiting Professor, Musashino Art University

Director of the General Affairs Division, Railway Bureau of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Senior Executive Officer, East Japan Railway Company
TAKI Hisao, Director – General, Japan Traffic Culture Association

As of October 2024.

The 45th Winners 2024

Prize for Excellence / Grand Prize	AGATSUMA Ryo	Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
Prize for Excellence / International Grand Prize	Iris DAIBERT	Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany
Prize for Excellence	NAKAHARA Kanako	Aichi University of the Arts, Japan
	SATO Kei	Kanazawa College of Art, Japan
	JURI Noa	Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan
	IWAMOTO Ayana	Kyoto University of the Arts, JAPAN
	ISHII Moe	Joshibi University of Art and Design, Japan
	HSU Hsinjung	Tama Art University, Japan
	SUN Jianai	Tokyo Zokei University, Japan
	TAKEUCHI Taiki	Tohoku University of Art and Design, Japan
	KITANI Akane	Nihon University, Japan
	HAKUTO Shogo	Hiroshima City University, Japan
	SASAKI Rio	Musashino Art University, Japan
	JU Hyobin	Ewha Womans University, College of Arts & Design, South Korea
	YI Chao	Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University, China
	Jonathan LIU	Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore
	Laure PINARD	École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France
	Sophia METZGER	Art Center College of Design, USA
Special Jury Prize	EGUCHI Kyoka	Kanazawa College of Art, Japan
	NOGUCHI Kakeru	Tama Art University, Japan
	SHIBUYA Mizuki	Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
	NA Songhee	Seoul National University, South Korea
	Raphael FISCHER-DIESKAU	Berlin University of the Arts, Germany

The Grand Prize winner is selected from among winners of Prize for Excellence.

Screening

第一次審査会（7月17日）の様子 — Scene from the 45th International
TAKIFUJI Art Award screening

Final screening for the 45th International TAKIFUJI Art Award winners was held on September 25th. The results were, 12 Prizes for Excellence and 3 Special Jury Prizes to artists from Japan; and for 6 countries including South Korea, China, Singapore, France, Germany and the USA, there were 6 Prizes for Excellence and 2 Special Jury Prize. In addition, the winners of the Grand Prize (Mr. AGATSUMA Ryo, Tokyo University of the Arts) and the International Grand Prize (Ms. Iris DAIBERT, Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany) were selected from the Prize for Excellence recipients.

Award Ceremony and Reception
(November 19th, 2024 in Meiji Kinenkan)

The award ceremony was held in Meiji Kinenkan. This year, we have invited award-winning students and supervisors from Japan, as well as some students and supervisors from overseas universities. The director general of JPTCA, TAKI Hisao, handed the award certificates and scholarships to each winner on stage. The winners received a big round of applause from their teachers and guests. The juries Mr. MIYATA Ryohei and Mr. HIBINO Katsuhiko, gave words of encouragement to the winners. The social gathering began with a greeting from jurie Mr. TANADA Koji, and during the chat, the previous day’s visit to the Public Art Studio was shown on the screen. In addition, the award winners spoke about their production concepts and future prospects in front of the videos of their winning works. The ceremony concluded with a speech by Mr. OTSU Eibin, a member of the jury.

Award Ceremony and Reception

グランプリ受賞者 — the Grand Prix winners Mr. AGATSUMA (left) and Ms. Iris (right).

審査員1 — Jury members Mr. MIYATA Ryohei (left) and Mr. HIBINO Katsuhiko (right).

審査員2 — Jury members Mr. TANADA Koji (left) and Mr. OTSU Eibin (right).

指導教員 — the Grand Prix winner’s advisor, Professor MARUYAMA Tomomi, Tokyo University of the Arts (left) and Professor Katrin PLAVCAK, Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design (right).

懇親会会場 — Professor Ian WOO, Lasalle College of the Arts (left) and Professor HARA Satoshi, Kanazawa College of Art(right).

作品展示 — The work of the award winners and the artwork created at the workshop of Atelier Tour were displayed at the social gathering venue.

Atelier Tour
(November 18th, 2024. CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio)

On the day before the award ceremony, the participants took a tour of the CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio (Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture; 80km south west of Tokyo), where they learned about the production process of public art works such as stained glass and ceramic relief panels. In the morning, participants listened to a lecture on public art, and in the afternoon, they observed the production sites of stained glass and ceramic reliefs. After that, the students moved to the Creare Art Museum, a multi-purpose facility adjacent to the studio, to work on workshops. They combined colorful glass and ceramic pieces on a plate and completed their artwork in an hour. The artwork was displayed at the reception venue the next day.

Atelier Tour

レクチャー — Participants learned the history of studio and process of their works.

ランチタイム — Lunch time was the first time in four years for international exchange.

ステンドグラス制作現場 — Getting a lecture on stained glass manufacturing at the studio.

陶板レリーフ制作現場 — Received an explanation of the ceramic relief.

ワークショップ — In the workshop, artwork will be created with ceramic plates and antique glass pieces.

The 45th International TAKIFUJI Art Award Archives

Application Guidelines 2025

Qualifications	Students who are qualified and recommended by professor
Award Amount	Prize for excellence: 300,000 JPY single installment Special Jury Prize: 100,000 JPY single installment International Grand Prize: invited to the award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan

Application Deadline	June 10th, 2025
Results Announced	Middle of September, 2025
Award Ceremony	Middle of November, 2025

*For more information about this award, please refer to the details on PDF below.

The 46th Scholarship Application Guidelines 2025 (PDF:3.7MB)

How to apply online the International TAKIFUJI Art Award (PDF:450KB)

Contacts

Interview

: The 26th International TAKIFUJI Art Award winner

NOGUCHI Shunsuke Painter

Painter NOGUCHI Shunsuke consistently pursues "light". Currently, he is focusing on developing the n

Award Community

Takifuji Foundation

About Foundation

Takifuji Foundation was established in 1968 as an aid program to foster potential in the younger generation. The name of “Takifuji” was taken by the name of TAKI Fujitaro, who is one of the founder. It is available to people working in transportation or traffic related businesses (including tourism) and their family members currently attending university or another form of higher education. Each year around 50 participants are selected and receive financial assistance or full scholarship. Up to 2024, the students who received the scholarship are more than 2,010.