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 46 years we’ve provided support to 915 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 46 years (by 2025), we have provided support for a total of 915 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 2025, 46th award)

The universities above are correct as of October 2025(Universities which subject to the application qualification revised and add depend on the year)
Total of winners	915(46th, 24 students)
Total Scholarship	265.6 JPY ($1.73million)
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 46th Award Gallery 2025

Prize for Excellence / Grand Prize
SATO Soma　Aichi University of the Arts, Japan
[Ink-spray decoration ceramic box-go further-]
I am truly grateful for receiving the Prize for Excellence and Grand Prize. This piece is a ceramic box made using the traditional technique of ink spray. There is space inside the ceramic box where my feelings can be expressed. On the surface, I painted an imaginary landscape made up of trees and roads, which I felt overlapped with my own desire to move forward despite the anxiety of not knowing where the road leads. I would like to use this award as motivation to face myself through my work and create new value.
Prize for Excellence / International Grand Prize
PARK Yuchae　Seoul National University, South Korea
[When the Poison Blooms in Water]
I am sincerely grateful to receive this meaningful award. This work captures a moment in which the self-centered nature of human beings is revealed. In the scene, people are picking beautiful yet poisonous fruits from a tree, carefully grinding them, and releasing them into the water to catch many living beings. To understand their position, I drew each line one by one, as if embroidering, spending a long time on the process. Stitching everyday scenes onto the canvas line by line allows me to withhold hasty judgment, to reflect longer, and to seek deeper understanding. I am grateful that this award has inspired me to further research and develop the way I understand the world. Through slow and repetitive actions, I hope to continue exploring the complex layers hidden within such scenes. Thank you for giving me this valuable experience and such a great award.
Prize for Excellence
KATSUMATA Tsukino　Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Japan
[Blue and There Stars]
Prize for Excellence
MATSUYAMA Takeru　Kanazawa College of Art, Japan
[My feeling]
Prize for Excellence
MAEDA Naoka　Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan
[junkatsutaru]
Prize for Excellence
MATSUMORI Hiroaki　Kyoto University of the Arts, Japan
[On your mark]
Prize for Excellence
TANIGUCHI Konoha　Joshibi University of Art and Design, Japan
[MUSE]
Prize for Excellence
HARA Kotone　Tama Art University, Japan
[imagine]
Prize for Excellence
SHIRAKAWA Shinku　Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
[Ebisu-sama Parade]
Prize for Excellence
HIRATA Aoi　Tokyo Zokei University, Japan
[Cloud like picture]
Prize for Excellence
EIMURA Riku　Tohoku University of Art and Design, Japan
[Go with the Flow Camp]
Prize for Excellence
UESUGI Riko　Nihon University, Japan
[reverie Ⅱ]
Prize for Excellence
GOTO Ryudai　Hiroshima City University, Japan
[life, time and flowers]
Prize for Excellence
TAKEMURA Haruka　Musashino Art University, Japan
[immortal]
Prize for Excellence
GUO Tong　Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University, China
[the “Facing the wind” series No.1]
Prize for Excellence
Thirishaa SELVARAJ　Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore
[ma, please tell me it’s enough, lie me down and let me rest]
Prize for Excellence
Guilherme FERREIRA DE OLIVEIRA　École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France
[Casca Grossa et Bochecha Inchada]
Prize for Excellence
Linda HERRMANN　Berlin University of the Arts, Germany
[Soft Painting（Blue）]
Prize for Excellence
Benedict DOUGLAS-SCOTT　University of the Arts London, UK
[The First Aspect of The Core]
Prize for Excellence
Yuxin LUO　Art Center College of Design, USA
[Landmark of Altadena (1:8 model)]
Special Jury Prize
AMANO Hirotoshi　Kyoto City University of Arts
[Forest Punch]
Special Jury Prize
YOSHIDA Akito　Musashino Art University, Japan武
[Toukotsu ni ujimushi]
Special Jury Prize
PARK Hyunjin　Ewha Womans University, College of Arts & Design, South Korea
[VEIL OF PERCEPTION]
Special Jury Prize
Jakob WÜRTENBERGER　Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany
[Horse on Horse]

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
Executive Vice President, East Japan Railway Company
TAKI Hisao, Director – General, Japan Traffic Culture Association

As of October 2025.

The 46th Winners 2025

Prize for Excellence / Grand Prize	SATO Soma	Aichi University of the Arts, Japan
Prize for Excellence / International Grand Prize	PARK Yuchae	Seoul National University, South Kor
Prize for Excellence	KATSUMATA Tsukino	Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts,Japan
	MATSUYAMA Takeru	Kanazawa College of Art, Japan
	MAEDA Naoka	Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan
	MATSUMORI Hiroaki	Kyoto University of the Arts, Japan
	TANIGUCHI Konoha	Joshibi University of Art and Design, Japan
	HARA Kotone	Tama Art University, Japan
	SHIRAKAWA Shinku	Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
	HIRATA Aoi	Tokyo Zokei University, Japan
	EIMURA Riku	Tohoku University of Art and Design, Japan
	UESUGI Riko	Nihon University, Japan
	GOTO Ryudai	Hiroshima City University, Japan
	TAKEMURA Haruka	Musashino Art University, Japan
	GUO Tong	Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University, China
	Thirishaa SELVARAJ	Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore
	Guilherme FERREIRA DE OLIVEIRA	École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France
	Linda HERRMANN	Berlin University of the Arts, Germany
	Benedict DOUGLAS-SCOTT	University of the Arts London, UK
	Yuxin LUO	Art Center College of Design, USA
Special Jury Prize	AMANO Hirotoshi	Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan
	YOSHIDA Akito	Musashino Art University, Japan
	PARK Hyunjin	Ewha Womans University, College of Arts & Design, South Korea
	Jakob WÜRTENBERGER	Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany

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

Screening

第一次審査会（7月16日）の様子 — Scene from the 46th International
TAKIFUJI Art Award screening

Final screening for the 46th International TAKIFUJI Art Award winners was held on September 17th. The results were, 13 Prizes for Excellence and 2 Special Jury Prizes to artists from Japan; and for 7 countries including South Korea, China, Singapore, France, Germany, UK and the USA, there were 7 Prizes for Excellence and 2 Special Jury Prize. In addition, the winners of the Grand Prize (Mr. SATO Soma, Aichi University of the Arts) and the International Grand Prize (Ms. PARK Yuchae, Seoul National University, South Korea) were selected from the Prize for Excellence recipients.

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.