Do I need to speak Japanese to apply to open calls in Japan?

Usually not for the programs Arthead lists. International residencies and competitions in Japan typically publish English guidelines and accept English applications. Day-to-day life at rural residencies benefits from basic Japanese, but selection rarely requires it; listings note language requirements where they exist.

Are Japanese residencies open to international artists?

Many are, and several exist specifically to host international artists, offering studio space, housing, and sometimes travel support. Some prefectural programs are limited to Japan-based artists. Each Arthead listing states the verified eligibility and what the program covers.

What kinds of competitions does Japan offer?

Japan runs internationally recognized competitions in illustration, craft, ceramics, and photography, several with substantial prizes and exhibition or publication outcomes. Triennial craft and art exhibitions also recruit through open calls with multi-year cycles, worth planning ahead for.

Do open calls in Japan charge application fees?

Residencies in Japan are usually free to apply, though program fees vary between funded and self-funded models. Competitions sometimes charge modest entry fees. Every Arthead listing shows the fee status and whether the program itself is funded.

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Open Calls · Japan

Open Calls for Artists in Japan

Residencies, grants, exhibitions, and competitions across Japan. Curated and updated weekly.

Added in 30 days

Closing this week2● URGENT

EXHExhibition

International·Sapporo, Japan·Free entry

SIAF2027 - 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery Award

Two winners exhibit as SIAF2027 participating artists; production budget ~200,000 yen + artist fee ~300,000 yen

The 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery Award is an open call for exhibition plans for the Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 (SIAF2027), held in the underground walkway gallery in Sapporo, Japan. Proposals should respond to the SIAF2027 theme "PLANET SNOW - upas mintar / upas nociw." The gallery offers glass cases (each 12 m wide), with four cases totaling 48 meters made available to each winner. Two parties are selected through a primary document screening and a secondary interview, becoming SIAF2027 participating artists. The exhibition runs January 16 to March 24, 2027, and winners receive a production budget of around 200,000 yen plus an artist fee of about 300,000 yen. The deadline is July 20, 2026.

Sapporo International Art Festival

International·Itami, Japan, Japan·Free entry

2026 ITAMI International Craft Exhibition – "Sake Ware"

Grand Prix: JPY 500,000; 2nd Best Overall Award (Shirayuki Itami Morohaku Award): JPY 400,000; Itami Award: JPY 350,000; Gold Award (Shirayuki Award): JPY 250,000; Awards for Promising Talent (two awards): JPY 200,000 each; Best Material Award (Satake Glass Award): JPY 100,000; Juries Choice (Itami Shuzo Association Award): JPY 50,000.

A prestigious international triennial craft competition hosted by Itami City Museum of Art. The 2026 edition focuses on "Shuki Shuhaidai" (sake ware), inviting artists worldwide to submit original functional or conceptual drinking vessels. Selected works are exhibited at the museum and judged based on the physical originals.

2026 ITAMI International Craft Exhibition

Closing this month1

International·Japan / Europe, Japan·Free entry

EU-Japan Mobility Support 2026 – Travel Grant for Artistic Exchange

Financial support from JPY 50,000 to JPY 150,000 covering travel expenses and project mobility costs for artistic exchange between Japan and Europe.

The EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee offers travel grants to artists, curators, designers, cultural organizers, and researchers involved in Japan-Europe cultural exchange projects. Grants range from JPY 50,000 to JPY 150,000, covering travel expenses for project mobility, research visits, or attendance at cultural events. Applicants connected to European Capital of Culture programmes are especially encouraged. Applications must be submitted at least six weeks before planned travel. Both emerging and established practitioners at any career stage are eligible.

EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee

Later this season1

International·Tottori Prefecture, Japan·Free entry

15th Annual Manga Kingdom Tottori International Comic Art Contest 2026

Grand Prize: JPY 500,000; Merit Awards (2): JPY 100,000 each; Selection Committee Awards (3): JPY 50,000 each; U-15 Youth Prize: approx. JPY 30,000. Exhibition and potential invitation to award ceremony in Japan.

The 15th Annual Manga Kingdom Tottori International Comic Art Contest welcomes artists of all ages and nationalities to submit original manga on the theme 'Clothes.' Submissions can be one-frame manga, four-frame manga (1–8 pages), or longer manga stories (4–24 pages). A special U-15 category exists for young participants aged 15 and under. Winning works will be exhibited in Japan, and winners receive certificates, prizes in JPY, and potential invitations to the award ceremony in Tottori Prefecture.

Tottori Prefectural Government

Closes in

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31 Aug 2026

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✦ OPEN CALLS IN JAPAN

Open calls in Japan, answered.

Japan offers a distinctive mix for artists: international residencies from urban Tokyo studios to rural art villages, illustration and craft competitions with global reach, and triennial exhibitions that recruit through open calls. Many programs publish English-language guidelines and accept international applications.

This page tracks opportunities in Japan that are open right now, each verified by hand with deadline, fee, eligibility, and award listed, linking directly to the host organization's official page.

Do I need to speak Japanese to apply to open calls in Japan?: Usually not for the programs Arthead lists. International residencies and competitions in Japan typically publish English guidelines and accept English applications. Day-to-day life at rural residencies benefits from basic Japanese, but selection rarely requires it; listings note language requirements where they exist.
Are Japanese residencies open to international artists?: Many are, and several exist specifically to host international artists, offering studio space, housing, and sometimes travel support. Some prefectural programs are limited to Japan-based artists. Each Arthead listing states the verified eligibility and what the program covers.
What kinds of competitions does Japan offer?: Japan runs internationally recognized competitions in illustration, craft, ceramics, and photography, several with substantial prizes and exhibition or publication outcomes. Triennial craft and art exhibitions also recruit through open calls with multi-year cycles, worth planning ahead for.
Do open calls in Japan charge application fees?: Residencies in Japan are usually free to apply, though program fees vary between funded and self-funded models. Competitions sometimes charge modest entry fees. Every Arthead listing shows the fee status and whether the program itself is funded.