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 the USA The scholarship provides 300,000 yen a year to each recipient. Over the last 44 years we’ve provided support to 868 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 44 years (by 2023), we have provided support for a total of 868 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 2023, 44th award)

The universities above are correct as of October 2023(Universities which subject to the application qualification revised and add depend on the year)
Total of winners	868 (44th, 22 students)
Total Scholarship	253.1 million yen ($1.69million)
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 44th Award Gallery 2023

Prize for Excellence / Grand Prize
[Tokyo2020 Paralympic Games Men’s Wheelchair Obstacle Race] KASAHARA Rikako
Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
I have a family member with a mental disability, and this was the starting point for my artwork at university. The winning work is a mockumentary about the fictional Paralympic Games, with the Tokyo University of the Arts as a stadium and the plaster statues as athletes. While athletes’ successes attract attention, people live in fear of the risk of serious infection. Although it has become a tourist destination, culture and art still have many barriers for people with disabilities. This work was created around the same time as the Tokyo Olympics 2020, in response to the social situation at the time (and still continues today). I feel the need to think about the real responsibility and significance of my work being winning an art award promoting “public art” on behalf of this university. Once again, thank you very much for the wonderful award.
Prize for Excellence / International Grand Prize
[Divine (Decorative Accent Lamp)] Jenny (Jiening) CHEN
Art Center College of Design, USA
I’m deeply appreciative for being honored with both the Prize for Excellence and the Grand Prize. “If Liquid Speaks”, “Kairos”, and “Divine” are my artist lighting series which was greatly inspired by the link between the inner world and nature. Additionally, as a designer and artist, I prioritize a product’s practicability, functionality, trend, and commercial nature in addition to its aesthetics. Receiving this award fills me with profound gratitude and inspiration. This will push me to go further and deeper.
Prize for Excellence
[The place where human beings live] IMAI Ryo
Aichi University of the Arts, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[chiisanamonotachi] NAKAI Serika
Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[Guardian dog] NOJO Rei
Kanazawa College of Art, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[Urushi marimba] YAMANOUCHI Genshun
Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[ci] SHIRAHATA Kako
Kyoto University of the Arts, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[Trace] MATSUOKA Miho
Joshibi University of Art and Design, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[border] FUJITA Nono
Tama Art University, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[Wounds and Topography] IGUCHI Minao
Tokyo Zokei University, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[Touched the dazzle.] ISHIGURO Hikaru
Tohoku University of Art and Design, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[Silence] NOMURA Hinata
Nihon University, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[Days like long tracks, like the horizon] SAITO Natsumi
Hiroshima City University, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[Thinking about “Labor”] HE Ziyu
Musashino Art University, Japan
Prize for Excellence
[Untitled_02] KIM Eui-Jin
Seoul National University, South Korea
Prize for Excellence
[Elegant as a Startled Swan Goose] ZHAN ZhaoJu
Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University, China
Prize for Excellence
[NEVER ENDING OR BEGINNING] Iman SENGUPTA
Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore
Prize for Excellence
[DKAMI2] Elise NGUYEN QUOC
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France
Prize for Excellence
[Thermochromic Hug] Livia RAUCH
Berlin University of the Arts, Germany
Special Jury Prize
[golden crab] NOMURA Shunsuke
Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
Special Jury Prize
[Emergency hug wear] HEO Sujeong
Ewha Womans University, College of Arts & Design, South Korea
Special Jury Prize
[Can you hear this？] AEREE Sul
Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany

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

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 2023.

The 44th Winners 2023

Prize for Excellence / Grand Prize	KASAHARA Rikako	Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
Prize for Excellence / International Grand Prize	Jenny (Jiening) CHEN	Art Center College of Design, USA
Prize for Excellence	IMAI Ryo	Aichi University of the Arts, Japan
	NAKAI Serika	Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Japan
	NOJO Rei	Kanazawa College of Art, Japan
	YAMANOUCHI Genshun	Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan
	SHIRAHATA Kako	Kyoto University of the Arts, JAPAN
	MATSUOKA Miho	Joshibi University of Art and Design, Japan
	FUJITA Nono	Tama Art University, Japan
	IGUCHI Minao	Tokyo Zokei University, Japan
	ISHIGURO Hikaru	Tohoku University of Art and Design, Japan
	NOMURA Hinata	Nihon University, Japan
	SAITO Natsumi	Hiroshima City University, Japan
	HE Ziyu	Musashino Art University, Japan
	KIM Eui-Jin	Seoul National University, South Korea
	ZHAN ZhaoJu	Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University, China
	Iman SENGUPTA	Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore
	Elise NGUYEN QUOC	École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France
	Livia RAUCH	Berlin University of the Arts, Germany
Special Jury Prize	NOMURA Shunsuke	Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
	HEO Sujeong	Ewha Womans University, College of Arts & Design, South Korea
	AEREE Sul	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19日）の様子 — Scene from the 44th International
TAKIFUJI Art Award screening

Final screening for the 44th International TAKIFUJI Art Award winners was held on September 13th. The results were, 13 Prizes for Excellence and 1 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 (Ms. KASAHARA Rikako, Tokyo University of the Arts) and the International Grand Prize (Ms. Jenny (Jiening) CHEN, Art Center College of Design) were selected from the Prize for Excellence recipients.

Award Ceremony and Reception
(November 15th, 2023 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 for the first time in four years since 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic. 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 Ms. YUZAWA Sachiko, 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 Ms. Kasahara (left) and Ms. Jenny (right)

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

審査員2 — Jury members Ms. YUZAWA Sachiko (left) and Mr. OTSU Eibin (right)

指導教員 — the Grand Prix winner’s advisor, Associate Professor YAMASHIRO Chikako, Tokyo University of the Arts (left) and Associate Professor Penny HERSCOVITCH, Art Center College of Design (right)

懇親会会場 — The reception party was a place to communicate and interact for juries, students and their teachers

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 14th, 2023. 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, and had a chance to meet Alisa NIKOLAEVA, a trainee at the studio who is working hard on her ceramic works. 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 created by numbered pieces

工房研修生と — Interaction with workshop trainee Alisa NIKOLAEVA

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

The 44th International TAKIFUJI Art Award 2023 Archives

Interview

: New
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

Application Guidelines 2024

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 14th, 2024
Results Announced	Middle of September, 2024
Award Ceremony	TBA, in November, 2024

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

The 45th Scholarship Application Guidelines 2024 (PDF:3.8MB)

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

Contacts

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.