The theme of this competition, which solicits entries from elementary school children, is the “The Ocean, the Fish and Us.” It is intended to expose children to the wonder and mysteries of the ocean and the fish that live there, and to stimulate creativity in the form of research and artwork on the topic. The competition is open to schoolchildren in Japan and also to those studying at Japanese schools and weekend supplementary schools abroad.
The theme of this competition, which solicits entries from elementary school children, is the “The Ocean, the Fish and Us.” It is intended to expose children to the wonder and mysteries of the ocean and the fish that live there, and to stimulate creativity in the form of research and artwork on the topic. The competition is open to schoolchildren in Japan and also to those studying at Japanese schools and weekend supplementary schools abroad.
With the objective of providing “a place for learning through experience,” competition-related events such as online visit lessons are also conducted. These lessons are carefully crafted so that children can learn, from a perspective different from their regular school classes, about topics they might only encounter in this unique setting.
Special website of Umi & Sakana Children’s Research and Artwork Competition (in Japanese)
In collaboration with researchers and experts in marine life, the program provides children with specialized knowledge in an accessible way, going beyond what they usually learn in school.
Researchers and experts from Nissui, the competition sponsor, also participate. In 2025, employees at Nissui’s Central Research Laboratory Oita Marine Biological Technology Center presented a lesson on “health checkups for fish.” There were also lessons on “probing the secrets of the squid” and “become an expert on sea turtles,” which attracted participation by 3,083 children from 75 schools around Japan.
Online Lesson by Nissui Corporation
This competition, comprising a Research Division and an Artwork Division, offers eight Grand Prizes in each division, a total of 16 in all, as well as 50 prizes for cooperating schools and groups. In addition, all competition participants receive an “Ocean and Fish Expert” certificate.
A new Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 2025, listing all individuals who have received the Grand Prize a total of three times, including Grand Prize recipients in all previous 43 competitions, who are honored with the title of “Ocean and Fish Meister.”
Two pieces of work that won the Nissui Award are showcased below.
Mitsuru Watanabe,
grade 1, Hinode Gakuen elementary school
Yusuke Watase,
grade 6, Shiobara elementary school, Fukuoka
