-- The 16th Kao International Painting Contest for Children is now open for entries, as of April 22, 2025, according to Kao. This year, under the theme of “Let’s make our environment sustainable, together!”, we invite children to create works that express what they think about and what they can do to protect the global environment.
Kao has conducted the Kao International Painting Contest every year since its launch in 2010 in order to convey our aspiration “To realize a Kirei World in which all life lives in harmony”, which is our Purpose, to as many people as possible through paintings by children around the world. We have received a cumulative total of over 160,000 entries from children in almost 100 countries and regions around the world. We also hold exhibitions of the winning works in Japan and overseas in the hope that the paintings expressed by the children with their thoughts on the environment and the future of the planet will inspire people around the world to take actions toward sustainable lifestyle.
Since last year, we have started an initiative to donate to the environmental activities at the time of children’s entries, so that paintings by those who bear the future will lead to a step in changing the world. To 3 themes 1)Wildlife protection, 2)Green forest conservation, and 3)Reducing marine pollution, we donate 50 Japanese yen per work. In 2024, we donated a total of approximately 830,000 yen.
The 16th prizewinners will be announced on the Kao website in December 2025.
Urban Wetland
Jinatta Banjongpisan (8)
The revived butterfly
Hayato Niino (9)
We are one family
Olexandra Serhiivna Palii (12)
15th Contest Winning Works
Outline of the 16th Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children
- Theme
“Let’s make our environment sustainable, together!”
What can we do to protect the precious global environment for the future, so that all living things can live together? Please express your thoughts and ideas freely in your painting.
- Eligibility
Children around the world between the ages of 6 and 15 years old (As of the end of August 2025)
- Please send entry works to
Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children Office
8-3-29 Tajima, Sakura-ku, Saitama City 338-0837 JAPAN
*We also have local offices in some areas. Please refer to “Q5. Can I apply from outside Japan?” in Frequently Asked Questions.
- Entry deadline
Paintings must be received by Tuesday, September 2, 2025. (JST)
- Results announcement
Announcement will be on our website in December 2025. Contest office contacts winners or their schools/art classes directly.
- Juries
For entry details, please refer to the Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children website.
Related Information
About Kao
Kao, a Japan-based manufacturer of personal care and household products, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its brands such as Attack laundry detergent, Bioré and Jergens skin care products, Laurier sanitary products, Curél, SENSAI, and MOLTON BROWN cosmetics, and Oribe hair care products, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,630 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 32,600 people worldwide and has more than 130 years of history in innovation. As an enterprise that provides products people use on a daily basis, the Kao Group takes responsibility to actively reduce the environmental footprint of its products throughout the product lifecycle. This is laid out in Kao’s ESG strategy, the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, which launched in 2019.
Please visit the Kao Group website for additional information.
Media inquiries should be directed to:
Public Relations
Kao Corporation
Entry inquiries should be directed to:
Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children Office
+81-48-872-1082
(working days from 10:00–17:00, Japan time)
Release ID: 89158199
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