JNTO - Japan National Tourism Organization Japan. Endless Discovery

Visit Japan Photo Contest 2018

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© Rikizo Kitagawa、ryokoring、mantaroq、atsushi.k.photography

Contest Winners

The winners of the Visit Japan Photo Contest 2018 have been selected!

Contest Information

Japan National Tourist Organization (hereinafter called JNTO) is holding a photo contest to globally promote the undiscovered beauty and artistry of Japan.

The Contest is part of Instagram's "#UnknownJapan" campaign, looking for photos in the following categories: "Japanese Food Culture" including cuisine, tableware, and agriculture, "Japanese Traditional Events" such as festivities and traditional craftwork used at such events, and "Japanese Scenic Moments" such as familiar scenes capturing scents of Japan, and fabulous views captured while traveling the country.
Winners of the Contest will be announced in mid-March 2018 on the Photo Contest Results webpage. Winning entries are also planned to be introduced on the official JNTO Instagram account.

Entry is simple. Follow the official JNTO Instagram account. Post your entry on Instagram using the specified contest hashtags, and your entry is complete.
Participants are required to accept the Entry Guidelines of the Contest when posting their photos. Please kindly take your time to review the information below.
We look forward to seeing your wonderful photos of Japan.

*The Contest is limited to residents in Japan or those with a valid shipping address in Japan for delivery of prizes.

★  ★  ★

*Apart from the selection process of the Contest, entries may be selected for publication in the “2019 JNTO Desk Calendar.” The organizer may also introduce entries and comments from the participant on the official JNTO Instagram account and Facebook page, related websites, related municipalities, Tokyo Camera Club, etc. (Organizers of such entries are hereinafter called "Introducer". Introduction of works as referred to above, and publication of works on the "2019 JNTO Desk Calendar" is hereinafter called "Secondary Use".) In such case, the participant acknowledges that the entry may be cropped, and only an excerpt of the comment may be used for publication. JNTO will notify the participant via Instagram Direct from the official JNTO Instagram account when possible.
*Entries without the specified hashtags and entries from private Instagram accounts will be disqualified. Make sure your account is set to public when submitting your entry.

How to Enter

Categories & Hashtags

Categories Hashtag Theme
Japanese Food Culture #vj_food_2018 Photos of “Japanese food culture” including Japanese cuisine, tableware and agriculture
Japanese Traditional Events #vj_event_2018 Photos of “Japanese traditional events” such as festivities and traditional craftwork used in such events
Japanese Scenic Moments #vj_view_2018 Photos of "Japanese Scenic Moments" such as familiar scenes capturing scents of Japan, and fabulous views captured while traveling the country

*The Participant is required to post photos with the following three hashtags:
1) #UnknownJapan
2) category hashtag
3) location hashtag
(For further details, please see "How to Enter")
*Entry hashtags are case-insensitive, however only half-width English letters are accepted.
*Please note, entries without the hashtags listed above, and entries from private Instagram accounts will be disqualified. Make sure your account is set to public when submitting your entry.

Awards and Prizes

Japanese Food Culture Award - GURUNAVI gift voucher worth 50,000 yen 2 persons
Japanese Traditional Events Award - Choice from one of either:
  1) JAL "BOEING 777-200 Model Airplane and Clear file folder"
  2) ANA "BOEING 777-300ER Model Airplane and Ballpoint pen"
- Traditional Japanese craftwork worth 10,000 yen
2 persons
Japanese Scenic Moments Award - High-capacity storage for photographers [Tokyo Camera Club collaborative model] "LHR-2BRH80EU3WR"   2 persons
2nd Prize Winners - #UnknownJapan original goods 10 persons
3rd Prize Winners - JNTO 2018 Desk Calendar 10 persons

*Winners of the Contest will be announced in mid-March 2018 on the Photo Contest Results webpage. Winning entries are also planned to be introduced on the official JNTO Instagram account.
*Prizes may be subject to change.

Entry Guidelines

Contest Period

12 January 2018 (Friday) - 8 February 2018 (Thursday)

*The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the Contest schedule.

Notification of Winners

Winners of the Contest will be announced in mid-March 2018 on the Photo Contest Results webpage. Winning entries are also planned to be introduced on the official JNTO Instagram account.

*Shortlisted participants will be contacted via Instagram Direct from the official JNTO Instagram account, so please do not forget to follow the JNTO Instagram account. The organizer will not be able to contact the participant when un-followed, which may result in the winner to be disqualified.
*Due to circumstances, the Contest schedule may be subject to change.

Eligibility

  • Resident in Japan (Participant should have a valid shipping address in Japan for delivery of prizes)
  • Participant who have an Instagram account
  • Participant shall be deemed to have agreed to the Contest Information and Entry Guidelines (including the Disclaimer) when their entry is complete.
  • Participant may use any equipment for their entry. Retouched images are also accepted.
  • Participant may submit as many entries as they wish.
  • Entries are limited to original works, which only the participant owns all necessary rights (including copyrights), excluding publicity rights. The participant is not to use images posted on external websites and blogs without permission, which may constitute infringement of copyright. Entries including images of other persons are limited to those that have cleared publicity rights in advance. As specified in the Contest Information, entries are subject for Secondary Use. Participants shall clear publicity rights for Secondary Use as well.
  • Participant may be amateur or professional, regardless of nationality or age. When the participant’s entry is selected for an award, or selected by JNTO, municipalities, or sponsoring companies for promotional use, the participant will be requested to submit official confirmation of their date of birth. Participants under the age of 20 must provide a written consent by a parent or guardian.

Judges

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is a government agency of Japan involved in a broad range of activities to encourage international tourists to visit Japan. JNTO maintains offices in key cities around the world, organizing promotions and marketing of inbound tourism in Japan.

Tokyo Camera Club

Tokyo Camera Club is one of the largest photo curating communities in Japan with a total of more than 3 million fans. Photos submitted by members of Tokyo Camera Club are screened and introduced on relative websites, gaining a total of more than 4.5 hundred million views per year. Tokyo Camera Club operates on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You do not have to be a resident in Tokyo to participate, so do feel free to join. Those who’d simply like to enjoy beautiful photos are welcome too.

Use of Personal Information

  • Personal information provided by the participant will be safely managed and only be used for the administration and publicity of the Contest, such as to contact participants regarding the Contest, deliver prizes, manage entries, and display winning entries. We may also use non-personally identifiable information of participants to generate statistical data. Personal information will only be used within the scope permitted by the Personal Information Protection Law, and for no other purposes. The participant acknowledges that any data collected through the Contest (such as EXIF data) will be processed and analyzed as non-personally identifiable statistical information, and may be disclosed to third parties such as sponsoring companies.
  • Personal information provided by the participant will not be disclosed to third parties without the participant’s approval, excluding the following purposes: to announce contest winners or introduce entries, to outsource the administration and publicity of the contest to subcontractors, and when required by law.
  • Personal information provided by the participant will be shared and used within the following scope.
    1. Collected Data
      Information such as name, date of birth, address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc. submitted by the participant when the participant’s entry is selected for an award, or selected by JNTO, municipalities, or sponsoring companies for promotional use.
    2. Users
      The operator of “Tokyo Camera Club”, Tokyo Camera Club Corporation / Yamato System Development Co., Ltd. Yamato System Development Co., Ltd.
    3. Purpose of Use
      Personal information of participants will only be used for the administration and publicity of the Contest, such as to contact participants regarding the Contest, deliver prizes, manage entries, and display winning entries. The organizer may also use non-personally identifiable information of participants to generate statistical data.
    4. Personal Information Management
      The operator of “Tokyo Camera Club”, Tokyo Camera Club Corporation.
      See here for more information about Tokyo Camera Club Corporation’s Privacy Policy.

Disclaimers

  • The participant must enter accurate information in each field of the entry form. The organizer does not accept responsibility for disqualification of entries, or any damages incurred due to submission of incorrect information.
  • Entries are not limited to previously unpublished works. However, to prevent trouble, the participant is encouraged to thoroughly check the entry guidelines of other photo contests when submitting a work that has previously won an award, or when submitting a work that is planned for submission to another contest. The participant may also enter works that have been previously published in non-commercial publications created by the participant. Works posted on participant’s personal blogs, and social media such as Facebook and Flickr accounts are also accepted, as well as photos displayed at non-juried photo exhibitions.
  • In principle, copyright of entries belong to the participant even after submission to the Contest. The participant shall not transfer copyright of entries to third parties.
  • The participant shall be solely responsible for resolving any disputes with third parties related to the entries submitted by the participant, at their own cost. JNTO, Tokyo Camera Club Corporation, and Introducers accept no responsibility.
  • The participant cannot withdraw entries from the Contest once submitted.
  • The participant shall be responsible for backup of entries.
  • The organizer will not accept works sent by mail or directly brought to the Contest office. Such works will not be returned to the participant.
  • The participant grants JNTO a free of charge license to publish, reproduce, broadcast or otherwise use their entry for an indefinite period of time for promotional use by JNTO, municipalities, sponsoring companies, and other third parties JNTO grants permission to under the conditions specified in this section. In such case, JNTO will notify the participant via Instagram Direct from the official JNTO Instagram account when possible. When using the participant’s entry, the participant will be credited wherever possible. And the participant agrees to waive all moral rights in the use of submitted entries.
  • Regarding the usage of entries as stated above, entries may be cropped, edited or modified using visual effects, music, and sound effects without prior approval from the participant.
  • The participant warrants that the participant owns all copyrights appearing in the entry, and has been granted prior permission for use of publicity rights, including Secondary Use as stated in the Contest Information. It is the sole responsibility of the participant to confirm that the entry does not infringe the rights of any third party and that prior permission is obtained to use the image of any person appearing in the entry. As specified in the Contest Information, entries are subject for Secondary Use. Participants shall clear publicity rights for Secondary Use as well. Participants may not submit entries that include advertisements and signboards of third party brands. Participants may not submit entries that offend public order and morals.
  • The organizer reserves the right to delete or disqualify, without prior notice, entries by participants who have been deemed by the organizer to have violated the Contest Information and Entry Guidelines or public order and morals, or have defamed or caused disadvantage to other participants. The organizer may also rescind awards given to a participant.
  • The Contest Information and Entry Guidelines shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan, and the Tokyo District Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction for the first instance over any lawsuit in connection with the Contest, Contest Information, or Entry Guidelines.
  • Although entries are handled with the utmost care, the organizer does not accept any responsibility in case of accidents.
  • Participants under the age of 20 must provide a written consent by a parent or guardian when the participant’s entry is selected for an award, or selected for promotional use.
  • No inquiries will be accepted regarding entries and selection of winners.
  • Prizes are non-transferable and non-exchangeable for cash.
  • Participants shall bear all costs incurred upon entering the Contest, excluding the rewarded prize.
  • The Contest is organized by JNTO. Facebook Inc. and Instagram are not affiliated with the Contest, and do not sponsor, approve, or operate the Contest in any way. Moreover, participants are deemed to have agreed that Facebook Inc. and Instagram have no involvement with the participant’s entry and selection of prizes. Although the Contest uses Instagram's system, JNTO and Tokyo Camera Club Corporation will not answer inquiries regarding the usage and technical matters related to Instagram's system and software or application or featured provided by Instagram and third parties. For inquired regarding such matter, please directly contact Instagram or the relative third party.
  • JNTO and Tokyo Camera Club Corporation reserve the right to change or cancel the Contest, in whole or in part, without prior notice to participants. Furthermore, when deemed necessary, the organizer may change the Contest's overview, contest information, or entry guidelines, and implement necessary measures for the fair operation of the Contest. Changes made to the contest information and entry guidelines are effective at the time of publication by JNTO or Tokyo Camera Club Corporation.

Organized by

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

Sponsored by

All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
Gurunavi, Inc.
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.
Tokyo Camera Club Corporation
(*in alphabetical order)

Supported by

Instagram

Inquiries

For inquiries regarding the Contest, please contact us from our Inquiry Form here.
Tokyo Camera Club Corporation. “Tokyo Camera Club Campaign Office”.
*Replies may take approximately two business days. We thank you for your patience.