NEUROBOTS NATIONAL LEVEL HACKATHON 2026
JIA
📌 About the Event
Organized by the Japan Illustrators’ Association (JIA), this prestigious annual competition serves as an international springboard for professional illustrators, digital artists, and structural creators. With no thematic restrictions, artists are given total creative liberty to showcase their technical prowess, stylistic uniqueness, and visual storytelling.
ℹ️ CONTEST OVERVIEW
- Organizer: Japan Illustrators’ Association (JIA).
- The Theme: Open / No Theme.
- Acceptable Mediums: Hand-painted illustrations, purely digital paintings, and photos of three-dimensional art pieces (sculptures, crafts, papercraft).
- Submission Format: All entries must be converted into high-quality JPEG files for online evaluation.
- Originality: Submissions must be the entirely original work of the entrant.
👥 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Who Can Enter: Open to anyone worldwide amateurs, professionals, students, and self-taught artists alike, regardless of nationality or age.
🎟️ ENTRY FEE STRUCTURE
The entry fee scales dynamically based on the volume of illustrations you choose to submit:
- 1 Illustration: 5,000 Yen (~$32 USD)
- 2 Illustrations: 9,000 Yen (~$58 USD)
- 3 Illustrations: 12,000 Yen (~$77 USD)
- 4 Illustrations: 14,000 Yen (~$90 USD)
- 5 Illustrations: 15,000 Yen (~$96 USD)
🏆 PRIZES & RECOGNITION
Winning artists receive substantial financial backing alongside elite global visibility within the commercial illustration industry:
| Award Tier | Number of Winners | Cash Reward |
| 🥇 Grand Prix | 1 Supreme Winner | 500,000 Yen (~$3,200 USD) |
| 🥈 Gold Award | Selected Finalists | 200,000 Yen (~$1,280 USD) |
| 🥉 Platinum Award | Selected Finalists | 100,000 Yen (~$640 USD) |
| 📢 Industry Spotlight | All Award Winners | Promoted extensively on the official JIA platform and introduced to premium publishing/commercial clients in Japan |