Fumio Asakura, a sculptor from Oita Prefecture, laid the foundation of modern Japanese sculpture and nurtured young artists at Tokyo Fine Arts School and “Asakurajuku.” To honor his legacy, we are hosting a sculpture exhibition that serves as a gateway for emerging sculptors across Asia.
This sculpture exhibition is co-hosted by Oita Prefecture, which promotes the vision of “Oita: The Creative Prefecture through Arts and Culture,” and Bungo-Ōno City, which aims to cultivate a community that fosters rich hearts and a passion for learning. Through this event, we hope to share cultural information from the local region to the rest of Japan and the world. We warmly welcome submissions from many participants.
18th Oita Asian Sculpture Exhibition Application
English
Korean
Chinese
Thai
Malay
| Organaizer | Oita Asia Sculpture Exhibition Executive Committee, Oita Prefecture, and Bungo-Ohno City. |
| Sponsor | Agency for Cultural Affairs |
| Cosponsors | Saiki Communications., Ltd, Oita Bank Co. Ltd. |
| Exhibition period (TBC) | October 17th (Sat) - November 22nd (Sun), 2026 |
| Work application period | August 1st (Fri) - December 21st (Sun), 2025 |
| Entry rules | (1) Eligibility |
| Individuals or groups under 50 years of age as of April 1, 2025, who meet either of the following :
①Those who hold the nationality of an Asian country/region, or of Australia ②Those who reside in an Asian country/region or in Australia regardless of nationality |
|
| (2) Submission Requirements | |
|
①One original, unpublished work per applicant or group ②Only one work may be submitted per individual or group. ③The sum of the three dimensions of the installed work (height, width, and depth, including the pedestal) must not exceed 150 cm. No single dimension may exceed 70 cm. ④The weight should generally be within 30 kg. If it exceeds this, the artist is responsible for transportation to and from the venue. ⑤There are no restrictions on the materials used; however, the work must be durable enough for transportation and exhibition, and must be self-supporting. If tools or equipment are needed for the work to stand on its own, the artist must provide them, and all components, including such tools, must fit within the specified size limits. ※If a submitted work is found to be plagiarized, copied, or previously published-even after being selected or awarded-the selection or award will be revoked. ※Works that cannot withstand transportation, or that may damage or soil other works, will not be accepted. ※Any issues related to copyrights or other intellectual property rights arising from the submitted work shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant. ※Works that do not comply with the regulations will be returned at the applicant’s expense. If return is not possible, the work will be discarded. Please take special care to adhere to all guidelines. |
|
| (3) Application Procedure | |
|
①Entry Fee Payment Entry Fee: Artists residing in Japan: ¥5,000, ※The fee is based on the applicant’s residence at the time of application, regardless of nationality. ※If you pay via ATM or transferring from an account other than your own, please notify the secretariat in advance. ※Entry fees are non-refundable for any reason. ※Applications without confirmed payment will not be accepted. ②Online Application Complete the application form on the official exhibition website and upload images of your work. Note: Image Requirements: ・JPEG format (max. 640×480 pixels) ・Images must be of the submitted work ・Three images are required: one front view and any other two angles of the applicant's choice ・No special lighting, lenses, filters, or enhancements Note: Postal applications will be accepted only if online submission is not possible. In such cases, please complete the application form and mail it along with a CD-R containing image data of the work (recorded in Windows-compatible ISO9660 format; Mac and Linux formats are not accepted) to the submission address. Applications postmarked by the deadline date will be accepted. |
|
|
The application ahead
Apply to: Oita Asian Sculpture Exhibition Committee Office |
|
 |
| Screening Process | (1) First screening |
|
Approximately 60 works will be selected through a document screening based on image submissions. Notification of Results: All applicants will be notified, and the results will be posted on the official website by application number. Announcement Date: Scheduled for February 2026 ※Inquiries, by phone, regarding the results will not be accepted. |
|
| (2) Second screening | |
|
Approximately 30 works will be selected from the first-round qualifiers through a second screening. Notification of Results: All first-round qualifiers will be notified, and the results will be posted on the official website by application number. Announcement Date: Scheduled for March 2026 Works that pass the second round will be exhibited during the exhibition period. Note: Even if a work passes the second screening and is delivered to the venue, it will not be exhibited if it is found to violate the regulations. |
|
| (3) Final screening | |
|
Seven prize-winning works (Grand Prize and Excellence Awards) will be selected from the second-round finalists. Notification of Results: All second-round qualifiers will be notified, and the results will be posted on the official website by application number. Announcement Date: Scheduled for June ‒ July 2026 |
|
| (4)Awards and Opening Ceremony | |
|
Prize winners (Grand Prize and Excellence Award recipients) will be invited to attend the awards and opening ceremonies. The organizers will generally cover travel and accommodation expenses for the awardees. Note: However, the organizers will cover expenses up to a maximum of ¥100,000 for artists residing overseas (excluding those residing in Asia). |
|
| Judges | SAKAI Tadayasu (Art Critic) GODA Shuichi (Sculptor) FUKAI Takashi (Sculptor) KIM Sun-Hee (Independent Curator) MURAI Shingo (Sculptor) |
| Awards and Prizes |
Note: Ownership of the Grand Prize and Excellence Award-winning works will belong to the organizers. |
| Shipment and Related Matters |
(1)Successful candidates who pass the second screening will be notified of the delivery method after the results are announced. They will be asked to sign a waiver confirming they will not hold the organizers responsible for any damage or failure to return works due to import/export regulations. Please understand this in advance and arrange insurance for your works independently. (2)For entries from countries where personal import/export is prohibited, please designate a school or museum as the return address. (3)All packaging must be carried out with careful consideration of potential impact and vibration during transport. Appropriate measures must be taken to ensure the work is securely protected and to prevent any risk of damage or breakage. (4)All costs related to delivering the artwork, including packing, shall be borne by the exhibitor.
(5)The unpacking and inspection of artworks will be carried out in the presence of the exhibition handling contractor and the secretariat. If any issues are found, the artist will be notified. (6)The organizers will provide insurance coverage from the artwork’s arrival until its return. However, the insured value per work is limited to ¥100,000. |
| Others |
(1)Although the organizers will handle the artworks with care from delivery to return, they shall not be held responsible for any damage caused by the work’s materials or structure, natural disasters, or other force majeure events. (2)Artists whose works pass the first screening are deemed to have granted permission for their work’s images to be used in printed materials, websites, and other media for publicity and promotion. |