I’ll be participating as a judge in the U-22 Programming Contest 2018.
The contest details have been announced!

Details are as follows:
(Reprinted from the U-22 Programming Contest 2018)
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◆Details for the U-22 Programming Contest 2018 Announced!

　The U-22 Programming Contest 2018 website and application guidelines have been published!
　
　This year’s theme is “The world is whatever you create.”

　This year, we’ve extended the submission deadline compared to previous years so that participants can make full use of their summer vacation to work on their projects.
　Additionally, in light of programming education becoming mandatory in elementary schools starting in 2020—which led us to establish a new elementary school division last year—we have decided to collaborate with the “National Elementary and Junior High School Programming Competition” in 2018.
　We aim for further growth by exploring initiatives that leverage the common goal of “bringing ideas (i.e., creativity) to life” while capitalizing on the unique characteristics of each contest.

▼ Eligibility Requirements
　Aged 22 or younger (born on or after April 2, 1996)
　*For team entries, team members must generally meet the eligibility criteria listed above. However, students from the same school who are 23 years of age or older (born on or before April 1, 1996) may also participate, provided that at least half of the team consists of members aged 22 or younger and the team representative is aged 22 or younger.

▼Three Evaluation Categories
　1. Product: Evaluates works with a high level of completion—such as those demonstrating usefulness, artistic merit, or business potential.
　　　　　　　　　
　2. Technology: Evaluates works that are technically outstanding, such as those featuring advanced algorithms or functionality.
　3.Idea: Entries with outstanding ideas, such as originality and future potential, will be evaluated.

　Participating in this contest not only provides an opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people who share your interests and technical skills, but also offers “next steps” unique to the U-22 program, including recommendations for the Mitou Project.
　Bring your ideas to life and take on the challenge. We look forward to receiving many entries.

[Schedule (Tentative)]
　July 1 (Sun) – September 5 (Wed)　　Submission Period
　Early October　　　　　　　　　Preliminary Screening; Announcement of Qualifiers on the Web
　Mid-October　　　　　　　　　First Round of Judging; Announcement of Finalists on the Web
　October 21 (Sun)　　　 Final Judging, Results Announcement, Awards Ceremony, and Reception
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(*Open to the public. Live streaming on Niconico is also planned!!)
▽Click here for details
　http://www.u22procon.com/

◆Collaboration with the National Elementary and Junior High School Programming Contest Confirmed

　By 2020, programming education is finally scheduled to become mandatory in elementary schools across Japan.
　Just like in IT-advanced nations around the world, an era has arrived where anyone can learn “programming.”
　In light of this domestic trend, we have decided to partner with the “National Elementary and Junior High School Programming Contest” this year.
　We aim for further development by exploring initiatives that leverage our shared goal of “bringing ideas (i.e., creativity) to life” and the unique characteristics of each contest.
　The final judging session is scheduled to take place on the same day at the same venue!
　
　▼Press Release
　　http://www.csaj.jp/NEWS/pr/180402_u22.html

　▼Related Links
　　U-22 Programming Contest 2018　http://www.u22procon.com/
　　National Elementary and Junior High School Programming Competition　http://jjpc.jp/
　

◆About the 2018 Prizes and Supplementary Prizes

　Thanks to the cooperation of our sponsor companies again this year, we have prepared supplementary prizes for each award
! The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award is a whopping 200,000 yen—double last year’s amount!
The awards and supplementary prizes are as follows!

■Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award　　　　　　　　Scholarship: 200,000 yen
■Director-General of the Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Award　　　Scholarship: 50,000 yen
■ CSAJ President’s Award　　　　　　　　Scholarship: 50,000 yen
■ Sponsor Company Awards
　・Cybozu Award　　　　　　　　　　Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Starter Kit × 5 sets
　・Cygames Award　　　　　　　　　　iMac Pro + Mouse and Keyboard Set
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 (50,000 yen worth of items of your choice) + Adobe CC
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 (1-year subscription) + Office + Windows 10 + Unity
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　+ Maya / 1 set
　・OBC Award　　　　　　　　　　　 Microsoft Surface Pro
　・Sakura Internet Award　　　　　Parrot Drone Set (HD camera + FPV
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 goggles + controller included) and
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 120 cans of Red Bull
　・SATORI Marketing Award　　　“SATORI” original book gift card worth 100,000 yen
　・Nippon Jimuki “useful” Award　　　　　 Stay tuned!
　・PCA Cloud Award　　　　　　　　Latest MacBook
　・Forum8 Award　　　　　　VR Development Programming Kit (1 laptop,
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 1 unit; UC-win/Road, SDK, RAD Studio Professional (all with 1-year free licenses);
Bookstore gift card worth 30,000 yen
　・Mamezo Holdings Award　　　 100,000 yen in cash prize

▽Click here for details
　http://www.u22procon.com/#award

*Please note that the details of each award and supplementary prize are current as of April 2018 and are subject to change.