"Nanairo Bizen: Scenes from Seven Towns That Bring Color to Bizen"
Photo Contest Guidelines
We are publishing “Nanairo Bizen: Scenes from the Seven Towns That Color Bizen,” a 32-page, full-color, community-participation photo book packed with the charms of the Bizen area (5 cities and 2 towns*). To mark this occasion, we are holding a photo contest to solicit submissions for inclusion in the book.
Organized by: Bizen Regional Bureau, Okayama Prefecture
*Bizen Area: Okayama City, Tamano City, Bizen City, Setouchi City, Akaiwa City, Wake Town, and Kibi-Chuo Town
https://www.pref.okayama.jp/uploaded/attachment/417285.pdf
＜募集概要＞
The seven towns of the Bizen region are brimming with diverse attractions, ranging from National Treasures and traditional crafts to the scenic beauty of the Seto Inland Sea’s many islands and the bountiful cuisine of the highlands. Viewing this diversity as “color” (irodori), we are calling for submissions of artwork that captures the seven distinct colors of these seven towns.
The “Seven Colors” consist of seven categories: (1) Art, (2) Tradition, (3) Nature, (4) Activities, (5) Historic Sites, Shrines, and Temples, (6) Food, and (7) Events. You do not need to specify which category your entry belongs to. Winners will be selected from each category, so please feel free to submit entries across a wide range of categories. Of course, you may submit as many entries as you like, and you have the chance to be selected in multiple categories. A maximum of 70 winners will be selected. Photos taken in the past are also very welcome.
＜開催期間＞
Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 11:00 a.m. – Saturday, October 31, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
＜賞品＞
- Grand Prize: A 10,000-yen JCB gift card (1 winner)
- Excellence Award: 5,000-yen JCB Gift Card (7 winners)
- Prizes: JCB gift cards worth 1,000 yen (up to 62 winners)
In addition, all winners will receive a bound copy of the photo book *Nanairo Bizen: Scenes from the Seven Towns That Color Bizen*.
＜応募方法＞
Entries via Instagram
- Nanairo Bizen Official Instagram (@nanairo_bizen) and the official Bizen Okayama Nijiiro Trip Instagram account (@nijiiro_trip_7) Follow
- Mention @nanairo_bizen and @nijiiro_trip_7
- Include the location (such as the name of the spot) in the caption of the photo you post
- Post with the hashtag “## Nanairo Bizen Photo Contest”
Apply via the official website
- 「Application Form"Submit photos here (an email address is required)"
＜注意事項＞
For this photo contest, we are accepting submissions to be included in a photo book. Since this is a printed publication, high resolution is required, and it will be difficult to replace submitted works at a later date; therefore, please pay special attention to the following two points.
- Please do not delete the original data (the uncompressed photos before posting to Instagram); keep them saved.
- We assume that you have obtained the consent of the person depicted (the subject of the photograph) at the time of submission. We will contact shortlisted candidates at a later date to confirm their rights.
＜結果発表＞
We will make the announcement on the Nanairo Bizen official Instagram account and official website in late November 2026. Selected entrants will be sent a link to the registration form via Instagram DM or email. Please complete your registration by the deadline.
＜利用規約＞
- You may submit only one photo per entry, but there is no limit to the number of times you may enter.
- Entries must be photographs taken in the Bizen area.
- Editing of submitted entries should be limited to adjustments such as color tone, contrast, and the removal of people who appear in the photo; please refrain from excessive editing, such as digital compositing.
- Entries must be photographs taken by the entrant, which have never been provided to a third party and for which the entrant holds the copyright.
- Entries that include copyrighted works owned by a third party or depict the likeness of a third party may only be submitted if consent has been obtained from the copyright holder of the work or the person depicted (or their guardian, if under 18 years of age). For entries that include copyrighted works owned by third parties or depict individuals, but for which consent cannot be obtained, only those in which the copyrighted work or individual cannot be identified may be submitted.
- Please refer to the Agency for Cultural Affairs website for the provisions of the Copyright Act regarding incidental inclusion in photographs.
「Regarding the Revision of Provisions Concerning So-Called "Reflections" and Similar Issues」 - Submitting the following photos is prohibited.
- Off-topic
- Created using generative AI
- Entries that have previously been selected in other contests or similar events
- Content that violates public order and morals
- Content that infringes on a third party's right of publicity, copyright, or other rights
- Content that defames or slanders specific individuals or organizations
- Anything that hinders the proper conduct of the contest, or anything that poses a risk of doing so
- Submissions with illegible data
- Images that have undergone significant editing (such as the creation of elements that do not naturally exist or the creation of composite photographs that alter the facts)
- In addition, any other items deemed inappropriate by the Bizen Regional Bureau of Okayama Prefecture (hereinafter referred to as “the Bureau”)
- All expenses related to entering the contest are the responsibility of the entrant.
- Eligibility is limited to residents of Japan.
[Enter via Instagram]
- Posts from private accounts and posts without hashtags will be deemed invalid.
- If your entry is selected, you will be asked to provide the original file, so please be sure to keep a high-quality original file (at least 2 MB) on hand.
- Reposts and regrams of third-party posts will not be subject to review.
- We are unable to answer questions regarding Instagram’s operations, usage, or technical issues. Please contact Meta or Instagram directly regarding these matters.
[Protection of Personal Information]
- The organizers will comply with the Personal Information Protection Act and manage applicants’ personal information appropriately. We will use such information only to the extent necessary for the administration of the contest and will not disclose it to third parties, except to partner companies required for the contest’s operation.
[Copyright, etc.]
- The copyright to the submitted works belongs to the entrants.
- The Authority and any parties designated by the Authority (hereinafter referred to as “the Authority, etc.”) shall be free to use the submitted works solely for the purposes of the photo book “Nanairo Bizen: Scenes from the Seven Towns That Color Bizen” (hereinafter referred to as “the Photo Book”) and the promotion of the Photo Book. Furthermore, the authorities may freely edit the submitted works—including cropping and design modifications—at their discretion. (Entrants hereby agree to such use and provision without compensation.)
- Applicants agree not to assert or exercise their moral rights in the event that the authorities or other relevant parties use the submitted works in accordance with the preceding paragraph.
- If the authorities or other relevant parties use submitted works for promotional purposes related to the photo book, they will not display any information pertaining to the entrants, such as their names or account names.
- Entrants shall represent and warrant to the authorities that they have the legal right to submit their entries and that the submitted works do not infringe upon any rights of third parties.
- The authorities assume no responsibility whatsoever in the event that a submitted entry infringes on the rights of third parties, such as portrait rights or copyrights.
- We cannot remove submitted entries posted on printed materials managed by the authorities, Instagram, or official websites in response to requests from entrants or other third parties.
- The provision of winning entries to third parties is prohibited.
- By entering the contest, entrants agree that, in addition to their submitted entries, the information they provided upon entry and their Instagram account name may be published in the organizers’ printed materials, on Instagram, and on the official website, among other places.
[Liability for Damages]
- Should any legal issues arise regarding a submitted entry, the entrant shall be solely responsible for resolving all such issues at their own expense, and the authorities shall bear no responsibility whatsoever.
- Due to natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances, the contest details may be changed, or the service may be suspended or interrupted. In such cases, the organizers assume no liability whatsoever to entrants or any other individuals or entities in connection with the cancellation of the contest.
- The authorities assume no liability whatsoever for any losses, liabilities, damages, expenses, or other claims arising from participation in or selection as a winner of the contest.
- In the event that an applicant’s personal information is leaked due to the unlawful acts of a third party, the Authority shall, in principle, bear no liability whatsoever. However, this does not apply in cases where the Authority is at fault.
- The authorities assume no liability whatsoever for any damage to prizes after they have been shipped.
[Other]
- Even after the winning entries have been selected, if any submitted entry is found to contain false information or to violate these contest guidelines, the selection may be revoked and the prize may be required to be returned.
- If any conduct is found to violate Instagram’s Terms of Use or applicable laws and regulations, or if the organizers deem any entry inappropriate for any other reason, the entry will not be posted or may be removed, and the selection as a winner will be invalidated.
- The Contest and these Entry Guidelines shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan.
- Any disputes between the Organizer and entrants regarding this contest and these entry guidelines shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Okayama District Court as the court of first instance.
- The authorities shall have the final say on any matters not specified in the application guidelines.
- By entering the contest, entrants agree to the use and publication of their submitted entries on the Authority’s Instagram account, official website, and other platforms. The method and date of publication shall be determined by the Authority.
- The right to win is limited to the individual and may not be transferred to a third party or exchanged for cash.
- This contest is not sponsored by Meta or Instagram.
- Instagram is a trademark of Instagram, LLC in the United States and other countries.
[Contact Information]
「Contact Form"We are accepting applications from..."
Application Period: Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. – Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
*Please note that we cannot provide information regarding the validity of applications, the details of the screening process, or the results.
Organized by: Bizen Regional Bureau, Okayama Prefecture
