Sanjo City University will host the "Tokimeki Tsubame-Sanjo Business Contest 2026." This will be the second time the contest has been held, following last year's success. The contest aims to discover and support enthusiastic individuals who aspire to contribute to solving regional issues and revitalizing the community, and who wish to start businesses or expand their operations within Niigata Prefecture. The event will be primarily run by students of Sanjo City University.
This contest is open to junior high school students and older, and is open to individuals and groups. Participants must be able to attend Sanjo City University on the day of the event (travel expenses will be subsidized). The theme is "A New Business Plan Based in Niigata Prefecture." Emphasis is placed on using Niigata Prefecture as the starting point for creativity, and the plan must envision actual business development, such as starting a business, developing products, producing goods, or providing services, within the prefecture. This contest provides an opportunity to directly present one's business plan to judges active in various fields, and to widely communicate one's vision and passion to society.
The application deadline is Friday, October 9, 2026, and submissions by mail must be dated Friday, October 2 (postmark valid). The final judging (presentation) for the finalists who pass the first round of judging will be held on Saturday, November 28.
The final presentations will be judged on five criteria: contribution to Niigata, level of excitement, originality, feasibility, and growth potential. Outstanding ideas will receive prize money: 500,000 yen for the gold prize, 200,000 yen for the silver prize, and 100,000 yen for the bronze prize. In addition, the "Tsubame-Sanjo Prize" will be awarded to the best plan specifically focused on the Tsubame-Sanjo region, and the "Excitement Prize" will be awarded to the plan that each judge found most exciting.
For details about the contest and how to apply, please check the Sanjo City University website.
In the first contest held in 2025, there were 58 entries from a wide range of age groups both inside and outside Niigata Prefecture, with high school and university students among the winners.
