JDN INC., a member of the Tanseisha Group, has released the "Contest White Paper 2025," a statistical document on contests based on the 2024 articles published on the contest information site "Toryumon," which it operates, reader surveys, and attribute measurements of site visitors. This is the third installment following the release of the 2020 and 2022 versions.
Toryumon, operated by JDN INC., is one of Japan's largest contest information sites. For over 20 years, it has connected readers and participants as a place to obtain the latest contest information, and organizers and public relations personnel as a place to disseminate information that attracts high-quality readers. With the aim of covering all information on contests (competitions, open competitions, awards) that can be participated in from Japan, it continues to introduce information on approximately 40 contests per week, and more than 2,000 contests per year.
The newly released "Contest White Paper 2025" is a compilation and analysis of contest information (2,696 cases) published in "Toryumon" between January 1 and December 31, 2024, a reader survey (639 responses), and the attributes of site visitors, and is a document that systematically presents the current state of contests. In addition to creating connections between organizers and participants and society, it can be useful for communication between organizers and customers, strengthening organizer branding, and can be used to make more effective use of "contests," which are attracting attention as a next-generation marketing and communication method.
JDN INC., a member of the Tanseisha Group, will continue to connect various types of knowledge through contests, contributing to better communication and invigorating social interaction.
News Release
Background to the release of the "Contest White Paper"
Contests are held for a variety of purposes, including as a form of marketing and communication activity, as an event, and for branding, content development, use as social media content, fostering word-of-mouth, and recruiting. Knowledge of contests can also be seen as a form of information that reflects the times. JDN INC. will continue to publish the "Contest White Paper" in the hope that by publishing the information it has accumulated through its planning, management, and media activities as a single statistic, it will encourage many people to learn about and participate in "contests."
"Contest White Paper 2025" Download Application Form: https://w.japandesign.ne.jp/form/contestguide
*A PDF file will be sent to those who apply via email.
Overview of "Contest White Paper 2025"
| Period covered | January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Aggregated Data | Contest information published in "Toryumon" (2,696 entries), reader survey (639 responses), and attributes of "Toryumon" site visitors measured using Google Analytics 4 |
| Contents |
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Main Topics of the "Contest White Paper 2025"
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・The maximum prize amount is 12 million yen
In contests that offer cash prizes as secondary prizes, the most common range for prizes is 100,000 to 500,000 yen, accounting for 16% of the total. The highest prize amount was 12 million yen, awarded by the long-established literary contest, the 24th "This Mystery is Amazing!" Grand Prize. There were also six contests with a 10 million yen prize, three of which were for new business ventures led by national research institutes. Approximately 52% of the projects offered prizes instead of cash prizes.
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- How to accept submissions: Online submissions are on the rise
As a new topic this time, we investigated changes in the methods of accepting submissions. The number of projects that only accept traditional submissions by mailing or bringing in the original work decreased by 3.6 points. The number of projects that accept both mail and online submissions also decreased by 4 points. On the other hand, the number of projects that limit submissions to online only increased by 8.9 points. Going online saves on shipping costs, the hassle of receiving submissions, and the costs of storing works. Another attractive feature is that by utilizing a system, the entire process from acceptance to tallying and judging can be completed digitally.
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The top reasons for entering the contest were "hobby, purpose in life, change of pace, and testing one's skills."
The top reasons for entering a contest (multiple answers allowed) were "hobby, purpose in life, change of pace, test your skills," followed by "to win prize money or a prize." It appears that entering a contest enriches the lives of participants both psychologically and materially.
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・When applying for a contest, the most important thing is the "prize content (prize money, etc.)". The next most important things are the "time until submission" and "difficulty of production".
The most important thing to consider for applicants was the details of the submitted work and the prize money, followed by the period until submission and the difficulty of the work. Specific factors such as the schedule, difficulty, and field of work were also important to applicants.
Comments on the release of the "Contest White Paper 2025"
Kaori Inose (Director, JDN INC. Contest Business Division, Inc.)
While we are deeply involved in announcing contest information and results through "Toryumon," we also support the planning and implementation of many contests themselves. One of our strengths is that we have both a media perspective that overlooks contests and the perspective of the people who run them. This white paper organizes and introduces data accumulated from that background. In creating this year's edition, we have added information based on the latest social conditions while following the basic structure of the previous edition. We hope that this book will convey the appeal of "contests," which enable quality communication between companies/organizations and society. We would also like to hear your opinions so that we can further improve the book.
Yumiko Kiso (Director of Marketing & Sustainability Headquarters TANSEISHA Co., Ltd.)
With the cooperation of JDN INC., we have renamed the initiative that began in 2021 as "NEXSTO - Next Generation Store Idea Contest" to the "Tanseisha Space Award" in 2024. The purpose is to make the creators' methods of expression and areas more flexible, taking into account people's consumption awareness and purchasing behavior, which continue to change with the times and the environment. The "Tanseisha Space Award" is a collaborative field where new talent and space creation professionals meet and think together about their potential and the future of space. Through the judging with stakeholders such as developers, specialty store companies, and design offices, it was an opportunity to think about the challenges each company faces and the future of space. We would like to continue to take on new challenges as the Tanseisha Group, utilizing the know-how that JDN INC. has cultivated.
About "Toryumon"
"Toryumon" (https://compe.japandesign.ne.jp) was established in 1997 as a spin-off from the design information site "JDN," with the aim of covering all information on contests (competitions, open competitions, awards) that can be participated in from within Japan.
With over 2,000 entries posted each year, Toryumon continues to serve as a link between creators, providing them with the latest contest information, and organizers, providing a place to disseminate information and bringing together design-conscious users.
About "Contest iroha - Contest Consultation Center"
At JDN INC., we use our information capabilities, track record, and field experience regarding contests to provide "Contest iroha - Contest Consultation Center" (https://compe.japandesign.ne.jp/contest-iroha), a website where we will share with you everything from the basics of hosting a contest to ways to make your contest unique, based on our perspective of supporting contest implementation for over 20 years.
How do you hold a contest? What lies beyond that? This site will help you take that first step.
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Please note that this may be subject to change without prior notice.