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Greetings
Thank you very much for always using COOL JAPAN VIDEOS.
We sincerely appreciate your participation in the 29th COOL JAPAN VIDEOS Photo Contest — Japanese Summer.
This time, we received a wide variety of charming entries centered on the theme of ""Japanese Summer,"" including scenes of summer festivals such as fireworks and mikoshi (portable shrines), vast sunflower fields and dramatic summer skies with towering clouds, summer treats like shaved ice, water play, and nostalgic childhood memories like insect collecting under cumulonimbus clouds.
Each work conveyed the unique atmosphere and nostalgia of a Japanese summer, as well as connections with family and community. Every submission left a lasting impression.
Award-winning entries were selected based on how well they conveyed the richness and joy of Japanese summer through seasonal scenes and small yet meaningful moments from daily life.
The COOL JAPAN VIDEOS Photo Contest will continue to serve as a platform for sharing the beauty of Japan with the world.
We hope that the “Japan you captured” will resonate with even more people around the globe.
We look forward to your participation in the next contest as well.
Thank you for your continued support of COOL JAPAN VIDEOS.
Announcement of Results
If you were selected as a winner, please follow the proper procedures to receive your prize.
Told “Not yet!”, they still stretch out a hand, just a little touch, revealing a full-body expression of eager anticipation that brings a smile to anyone’s face.
The watermelon-print swimwear adds to the innocence, perfectly capturing a fleeting summer moment filled with pure joy.
The story doesn’t end there. The child ended up sliding forward and getting completely soaked, a classic summer scene many families can relate to.
This delightful snapshot, full of those little everyday moments that make summer with children so special, has been awarded an Honorable Mention for its heartwarming charm.
On the way home from a summer festival, a bottle of ramune soda, illuminated by streetlights and car headlights, seems to quietly reflect the memories of that day.
The city lights of Nagasaki shimmer in the background, gently reflecting through the glass bottle, creating a scene that evokes both warmth and a touch of melancholy.
This beautiful image, which subtly hints at the end of summer, has been awarded an Honorable Mention.
As the sun begins to set, the flowers bask in the warm evening light, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that stirs the heart.
Standing tall under the strong sunlight and facing the sky, the sunflowers perfectly represent the spirit of "summer in Japan."
The wide-open sky and flowing clouds add a sense of freedom and release, making the scene feel wonderfully expansive.
From the intensity and liveliness of summer to the stillness hidden within, this image captures all the essence of the season. It has been selected for an Honorable Mention.
As the evening sun sparkles on the water’s surface, the silhouettes of families spending time at the water’s edge stand out in soft contrast.
The photographer happened upon this family by chance, and with their permission, captured a scene that gently conveys the peace of a summer evening, the innocence of children, and the quiet bond of family.
This photo reminds us that even in the vast metropolis of Tokyo, there are places to connect with the sea and enjoy nature.
It beautifully highlights the quiet happiness found in everyday life and the hidden charms of urban nature. For these reasons, it has been awarded an Honorable Mention.
A grand burst of fireworks fills the night sky, while the figure of a person in a yukata gazes upward. It is an image that beautifully embodies the essence of summer in Japan.
With a fan in hand and a calm, quiet posture, the viewer exudes a sense of elegance that stands in contrast to the lively fireworks, evoking the fleeting, precious nature of a summer night.
In particular, the moment when the massive san-shaku-dama (a 90 cm diameter shell) explodes in the background adds a sense of scale and intensity that leaps off the photograph.
This evocative work, themed around “fireworks,” a quintessential part of Japanese summer, has been selected for an Honorable Mention.
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The flames rising into the night sky, and the tengu dashing through them, convey a deep spiritual solemnity far beyond a mere festival.
It takes nearly three hours by car from New Chitose Airport to reach this remote location. That distance only enhances the value of this immersive shot, likely captured because the photographer experienced it firsthand.
Clad in vivid red robes, the tengu emerges as if born from the fire itself. His expression blends intensity and mystique, captivating the viewer completely.
This photograph, which powerfully conveys both the cultural richness of Atsuma and the vitality of the fire-walking tradition, has been awarded the Grand Prize.