[Yamanashi Prefecture] The award ceremony for the “Fuji-California Young Artists Expo,” an international art competition themed around social issues, was held in Yamanashi Prefecture, with the
participation of 1,800 students from over 30 countries around the world!
Yamanashi Prefecture Press release: October 20, 2025 To Members of the Press The awards ceremony for the “Fuji-California Young Artists Expo,” an international art competition focused on social issues and attended by 1,800 students from over 30 countries, was held in Yamanashi Prefecture!
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/78927/415/78927-415-037e94a5fab2547ce0159d16586ed045-3900×2595.jpg Hiroshi Tasaka, Chairman of the Fuji Five Lakes Natural Capital Region Forum At the award ceremony, the works of seven artists selected from approximately 1,800 entries were introduced. The Yamanashi Prefectural Governor’s Award went to Nandini Agrawal, an Indian national, for her work “Innocence.” Nandini participated in the ceremony online and expressed her gratitude, saying, “I never expected to be recognized on an international stage. It’s wonderful that the voices of young people from around the world are being showcased.” In addition, the Yamanashi Prefectural Governor’s Kotodama Presentation Award, given to works that convey a profound message in a few words, went to Zhang Jiawei’s video work, “The Flower of Harmony Blooming in Peace.” Zhang’s video portrayal of social issues such as food shortages and the gap between rich and poor powerfully emphasizes the importance of coexistence and harmony.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/78927/415/78927-415-01deb5f858033e1b021f5465400007a4-495×330.jpg Nandini Agrawal, recipient of the Yamanashi Prefectural Governor’s Award (online)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/78927/415/78927-415-a9aa59c3b503e0ef43c47c3168368704-3900×2595.jpg Zhang Jiawei, recipient of the Yamanashi Prefecture Governor’s Kotodama Presentation Award ■ Ambassador Appointment Ceremony – Connecting the Fuji Five Lakes and the World through Art, a Bridge Woven by Young People Following the award ceremony, the Appointment Ceremony for Ambassadors, who will promote international exchange through art, was held. A total of 17 people were appointed as ambassadors, with seven selected from Yamanashi Prefecture. The selected ambassadors will be dispatched to Laguna Beach, California, a world-renowned art city, and Irvine, a student culture hub, with the goal of promoting international exchange through art. While there, they will deepen cross-border connections through the creation of artworks and diverse interactions. Kenshiro Yokoyama, a fourth-year student at Yamanashi University, was selected as an ambassador. He stated with confidence, “I’m aiming to become a junior high school art teacher, so I’d like to visit the area and broaden my horizons.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/78927/415/78927-415-b728ac64150a4d3998a41c370819cdc6-3900×2595.jpg Ambassadors (second and third rows) and, from left in the front row, Aljaime Yamanashi Prefecture Advisor, Hiroshi Tasaka, Chairman of the Fuji Five Lakes Natural Capital Region Forum, Kotaro Nagasaki, Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, and Yasutomo Suzuki, Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture. ■ Future Prospects Fuji Five Lakes Global Village, one of the international projects of the Fuji Five Lakes Natural Capital Region Forum, will continue to promote international exchange in the arts, culture, and education through hosting international events and participating in overseas projects. The six towns and villages participating this time – Fujikawaguchiko Town, Minobu Town, Nishikatsura Town, Yamanakako Village, Oshino Village, and Narusawa Village – are also participating organizations in the Fuji Five Lakes Natural Capital Region Forum, and plan to deepen exchanges in the fields of tourism, art, and education, including sister city partnerships with cities in California, USA. ■ Main prize-winning works ○Yamanashi Prefecture Governor’s Award [Work title] Innocence [Nationality/Name] India・Nandini Agrawal Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/78927/415/78927-415-91685c37c677c7010f11e8f9559075b6-310×332.png ○Shizuoka Prefecture Governor’s Award [Work title] A Beautiful Nightmare [Nationality/Name] Bangladesh・Arefa Jahan
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/78927/415/78927-415-c2f6620a61016e73376332001417bb08-297×392.jpg ○21st Century Academia President’s Award [Work title] Roots of Reflection [Nationality/Name] Ethiopia・Yonas Kenea
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