Challenge Rules
"Youth Innovation EXPO" Official Rules

This challenge (hereinafter referred to as the "Challenge") is organized and operated by the Student Expo Project Team “Asunowa” of Bunkashihon-Soken Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the "Organizer").
These rules set forth the conditions and regulations that Challenge participants must comply with.
By participating in the Challenge, participants are deemed to have agreed unconditionally and fully to the following terms.

 

Article 1: Challenge Period

• The Challenge will start on February 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM (Japan Standard Time, JST) and will end on July 19, 2025, at 12:00 PM (JST).
• The Challenge will take place through the special website "Youth Innovation EXPO" (hereinafter referred to as "YIE"), operated by Bunkashihon-Soken Co., Ltd., and will be accessible 24 hours a day, except for maintenance downtime.
• All dates and times are based on Japan Standard Time (JST/UTC+9).

 

Article 2: Agreement to These Rules

1. Participants who register on the Challenge website (hereinafter referred to as "Participants") must carefully read and accept these rules.
2. By agreeing to these rules, Participants enter into a legally binding contract with the Organizer regarding the Challenge. However, this contract does not establish an employment, delegation, or agency relationship with the Organizer.
3. By selecting "Agree" via the displayed checkbox during registration, Participants accept these rules unconditionally and fully.
4. Participants who violate these rules may be disqualified without notice and will lose all rights, including mentoring and awards.

 

Article 3: Registration and Participation in the Challenge

1. Registration Deadline

Participants must complete their registration by the following deadlines:

• Japan Domestic Participants
• Western Japan Contest ① in Kyoto: March 23, 2025 (Sunday) at 12:00 AM (JST)
• Other Contests: May 16, 2025 (Friday) at 12:00 AM (JST)
• Overseas Participants
  
  • Europe Contest: March 31, 2025, 10:00 AM JST
  • Asia Contest: March 31, 2025, 10:00 AM JST
  • North America Contest: April 11, 2025, 12:00 AM JST

Note: These dates may change depending on the schedules of various regional tournaments.

2. Registration Process

Participants must create a user account on the Challenge website and enter required information, such as their name and email address, truthfully and accurately.

Registrations based on incorrect, false, or incomplete information will be disqualified.

Participants who refuse to provide personal data necessary for the Challenge operations will also be disqualified.

The Organizer reserves the right to verify Participants' identity and email addresses.

3. Account Deletion

If a Participant deletes their user account, they will be considered to have withdrawn from the Challenge and will lose all associated rights.

4. Agreement to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Participants must also agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of the Challenge website.

5. Cost of Participation

Registration and participation in the Challenge are free of charge, and there are no obligations to purchase or make payments.

 

Article 4: Eligibility Criteria

1. The Challenge is open to individuals who meet all of the following criteria:
• Must be a student or researcher enrolled in high school, vocational school, college of technology, junior college, university, or graduate school.
• Must be either pre-startup or within one year of starting a business.
• Must be able to participate in each pitch competition after passing the first screening.
• Must agree to the event participation rules.
2. Participants may register as individuals or teams.
• Participants may be asked to present proof of enrollment, such as a student ID.
• A single participant cannot belong to multiple teams unless explicitly approved by the Organizer.
• Employees of the Organizer, its affiliated companies, or their family members cannot participate unless explicitly permitted by the Organizer.
3. Participants residing in countries or regions where participation is prohibited or restricted by law are ineligible.
4. Participants found to have ties with anti-social forces or criminal groups will have their participation revoked immediately.
5. Minors (high school students) must obtain parental consent before participating.

 

Article 5: Purpose and Participation Format

The objective of the challenge is to submit entries (hereinafter referred to as "entries") that present business ideas contributing to the resolution of social issues related to six of the eight themes of the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The six themes are as follows:

• Co-creating Cultures for the Future
• The Future of Communities and Mobility
• Necessities of Life: Food, Clothing, and Shelter
• Health and Well-being
• Learning and Playing
• The Future of Earth and Biodiversity

For more details on the eight themes of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, please visit the official website: https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/sponsorship/theme-weeks/.

 

Participation can be in one of the following forms:

• Individual participation
• Team participation (teams can be formed with members from different regions or schools, generally with a maximum of 5 members).

 

Article 6: Deliverables

Submission Requirements

• Participants must submit solutions or ideas addressing the issues stated in the provided briefs during the Challenge period.
• Submissions must be in digital file formats (e.g., PDF, PPT).
• Submissions must be in Japanese or English and must comply with these rules and relevant laws.
• If a submission is undownloadable, in an incompatible format, or unreadable, it may be disqualified.

Content Requirements

• Submissions must be original works created by the Participant.
• If using third-party materials, Participants must ensure proper copyright clearance and obtain necessary permissions.
• Submissions suspected of violating third-party rights or public order and morals will be disqualified.

Costs and Risks

• Participants are responsible for all costs associated with creating and submitting Deliverables.
• The Organizer assumes no responsibility for submission delays, data loss, or other technical issues.

 

Article 7: Partner Companies

• Partner companies or organizations supporting the Challenge (hereinafter referred to as "Partners") may participate.
• Partners may sponsor, judge, mentor, or provide prizes for the Challenge.
• Participant information (e.g., name, school, email, deliverables) may be shared with Partners as necessary.
• Partners may reach out to Participants for additional collaboration or partnership opportunities.

 

Article 8: Challenge Process

1. Application Period
• Refer to Article 3, Section 1.
• Applications must be submitted within the specified period; failure to do so will be considered a withdrawal.
2. Preliminary Screening
• After the application deadline, judges will select 10–20 promising ideas based on document screening.
• Results will be notified approximately 10 days before each regional tournament.
3. Regional Competitions (Presentations, etc.)
• Selected teams or individuals will give in-person or online presentations.
• Winners will advance to the final competition.
• Travel expenses are self-funded unless otherwise specified by the Organizer.
4. Final Competition & Award Ceremony
• The final presentations and Q&A sessions will determine the top winners.
• Finalists must attend in person.

 

Article 9: Awards and Prizes

Regional Tournament Winners:

• Invited to the final competition at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai on July 19, 2025.
• Travel expenses will be covered according to specified rules (up to 3 team members for economy-class flights, 2 nights of accommodation, and ticket for Osaka EXPO 2025; transportation and allowance will not be provided).

Final Competition Prizes:

• Grand Prize: Certificate, prize, mentoring, and opportunities for collaboration.
• Excellence Award: Certificate, prize.
• Special Partner Awards: Certificate, mentoring, special prizes.

 

Article 10: Communication

Participants agree that their name, school, photo, and project summary may be used in promotional materials without additional compensation.

 

Article 11: Confidentiality

• The Organizer is not obligated to maintain the confidentiality of information contained in Deliverables.
• Participants must understand the risks associated with disclosing their ideas before submitting.
• For award winners, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) may be signed if further development or commercialization is considered.
• If the Organizer independently develops or acquires similar ideas or technologies, Participants cannot claim compensation.

 

Article 12: Intellectual Property

1. Definition

• "Intellectual Property Rights" refer to all rights protected under copyright law, patent law, trademark law, and other applicable laws worldwide.
• "Creations" refer to all ideas, documents, designs, and content submitted during the Challenge.

2. Non-Infringement Guarantee

• Participants guarantee that their submissions do not infringe on any third-party rights.
• If a dispute arises due to an infringement, the Participant is solely responsible and must indemnify the Organizer.

3. Ownership of Rights

• Intellectual property rights of submitted Deliverables remain with the Participants.
• However, separate agreements may be signed for joint development or implementation with the Organizer or Partner companies.

 

Article 13: Changes to Rules & Cancellation of the Challenge

1. Changes to Rules

• The Organizer reserves the right to modify these rules without prior notice when necessary for operational reasons.
• Any changes will be posted on the Challenge website and take effect immediately upon publication.

2. Challenge Cancellation or Suspension

• The Organizer may suspend or cancel the Challenge at any time.
• In such cases, the Organizer holds no liability toward Participants.

 

Article 14: Limitation of Liability

• The Organizer is not liable for any website access failures, data losses, communication issues, or other technical problems Participants may experience.
• The Organizer and its affiliates bear no liability for any direct or indirect damages caused by participation in the Challenge.
• The Organizer is not responsible for any disputes or problems arising from Participants' violations of these rules.

 

Article 15: Handling of Personal Information

• The Organizer will manage the personal data collected (e.g., name, contact information, school name) in compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations.

1. Purpose of Use

Personal information will be used for:

• Challenge operations (e.g., participant verification, communication, screening).
• Prize delivery, event notifications, and future promotions.
• Ensuring security and preventing fraudulent activities.
• The Organizer will implement appropriate security measures to protect personal data.
• For more details, refer to the Challenge website’s Privacy Policy.

 

Article 16: Inquiries & Claims

• Any inquiries or claims regarding the Challenge must be submitted within 30 days after the Challenge ends.
• Contact: expo-youths[at]bunkashihon.jp
  (Replace “[at]” with “@” when sending emails).
• Please include the following details in the subject and body:
1. Name, school name, and contact information
2. Challenge name (Youth Innovation EXPO)
3. Inquiry or claim details

 

Article 17: Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

• These rules are governed by Japanese law.
• If a dispute arises, Participants must first attempt to resolve it through good-faith discussions.
• If discussions fail, the Tokyo District Court will be the exclusive court of jurisdiction.