The 22nd "AC Japan Student Advertising Award" Ceremony Held

On Wednesday, March 25, AC Japan held the awards ceremony for the 22nd "AC Japan Student Advertising Awards" at Scramble Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Now in its 22nd year, this award invites students to submit advertising works centered on public service announcements (PSAs) and recognizes their creativity, with the aim of fostering an understanding of PSAs and cultivating a sense of social responsibility.Entries were accepted in two categories: the “TV Commercial Category” (30-second TV commercials) and the “Newspaper Advertisement Category” (15-column newspaper advertisements). This year, the TV Commercial Category received 302 entries from 45 participating schools, while the Newspaper Advertisement Category received 791 entries from 39 participating schools.Judging was conducted based on criteria such as “whether the work excels as public service advertising and sparks interest or awareness in the public” and “whether it demonstrates the unique sensibilities of students and features ideas and themes brimming with originality.”

In the TV Commercial category, the Grand Prix was awarded to “Before ‘Seasonal Words’ Become ‘Dead Words’” (Okayama Prefectural University, Lead Producer: Anna Miyoshi), which addressed the theme of “global warming.” By contrasting the scenes depicted in haiku composed during the Edo period with the modern reality of intense heat persisting even after late summer, the work raised awareness of the worsening problem of climate change.

The Runner-up Prize was awarded to “Rainy Day Quest” (Nihon University, Lead Producer: Tomoka Yamaguchi), which focused on the theme of “Etiquette.” Using the worldview of an RPG, the entry conveyed the danger of an umbrella turning into a weapon depending on how it is held, emphasizing the importance of consideration for others and proper handling.

In the Newspaper Advertising category, the Grand Prix was awarded to “That’s Been Cut Out” (Okayama Prefectural University, Lead Creator: Momoko Sasai), which focused on the theme of “media literacy.” The entry used simple yet bold visuals to express how “information conveniently cut out” by the media can lead to interpretations that differ from the truth.

The Runner-up Prize was awarded to “Trouble with Smartphone Shut-ins” (Nagaoka University of Art and Design, Lead Creator: Ai Suzuki), which addressed the theme of “smartphone shut-ins in restrooms.” The entry highlighted the problem of people locking themselves in public restroom stalls to use their smartphones for extended periods, calling for the proper use of restrooms and consideration for others.

The two winning entries (30-second spots) in the TV Commercial Category will be broadcast on 11 BS commercial stations, and the two winning entries (15-column ads) in the Newspaper Advertising Category will be published in five national newspapers. Each will be featured as "AC Japan Student Advertising Award Winning Works" and will be broadcast or published over the course of one year starting in July.

In addition, the Special Jury Prize, Excellence Award, and Encouragement Award winners have been selected in both categories.　

[The 22nd AC Japan Student Advertising Awards]
Organizer: AC Japan
Supported by: BS Nippon TV, BS Asahi, BS-TBS, BS TV Tokyo, BS Fuji, WOWOW, BS10 Ten, BS11 Eleven, BS12 Twelve, J:COM BS, BS Yoshimoto, The Asahi Shimbun, The Mainichi Shimbun, The Yomiuri Shimbun, The Nikkei, The Sankei Shimbun (in no particular order)

◼️About AC Japan
The Public Interest Incorporated Association AC Japan was established in 1971 as the Kansai Public Advertising Organization. It became the Incorporated Association Public Advertising Organization in 1974 and changed its name to AC Japan in 2009.It is a private organization that aims to contribute to society and the public welfare by disseminating messages deemed beneficial to society—such as “public etiquette” and “environmental issues”—through various forms of advertising. Its activities are funded by membership fees from approximately 1,000 corporate members and individual members.The organization’s most distinctive features are the provision of free advertising space by member media outlets and the contribution of creative ideas by member advertising agencies. Recognized for the high public benefit of its volunteer activities, in which many private companies across Japan participate, it became a public interest incorporated association in 2011.