Japan Illustrators' Association

This award was judged by three jurors, each assigning points based on their individual perspectives. Awards were determined based on the total score from all three jurors.

In cases where multiple entries received the same total score, we conducted a comprehensive review that considered the balance of each juror’s evaluation and whether the work was more deserving of a higher award in terms of completeness and thematic depth.

In the 13–18 and 19–22 age categories, fewer entries were selected for Honorable Mentions. This was due to the fact that some submissions received no points from any juror. Out of respect for the judges' evaluations, those works were not selected.

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Sophie Blackall

It was a pleasure to see the fascinating range of work created by these talented young artists from around the world! The wide diversity of techniques and subject matter—from watercolor to Procreate, and fantastical self portraits to imaginary planets—is evidence that art can be whatever you want it to be, and art can be employed to tell any story you want to tell. I especially loved the work created by the youngest artists. As an illustrator, I am often envious of the freedom of young artists to paint whatever comes into their mind, to allow their brush (or marker, or pencil) to be an extension of their hand and mind, without overthinking. I think we artists spend the rest of our lives trying to recapture that sense of freedom. I would encourage us all to use our developing skills and experiences that come with growing older, and try to imbue them with the spirit of our less self-conscious childhood selves!
I would also like to add that art is nothing if not subjective. There were many judges with many different opinions, so it’s entirely possible that one of the bronze winners was someone else’s very favorite piece of all! I congratulate all the artists, whether you won a prize or not, and encourage you to keep making art for yourself first and foremost. Explore what is interesting to you, and what feels true, and try as many different materials and techniques as possible to make the work that feels closest to the idea in your mind. Because that is what we are doing: making something visible out of an invisible idea in our head. We are magicians!

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Victo Ngai

Ages 6–8：I enjoyed the work in this group this most. The young artists displayed delightful creativity, confidence, and a strong sense of play. Their bold self-expression and imaginative energy are truly inspiring and enviable. I hope they carry this joy in art-making with them as they grow.

Ages 9–12：Works in this group showed growing narrative clarity and symbolic thinking. While some messages relied on descriptions, stronger visual metaphors and focus can help ideas shine through more directly. Great potential emerging here.

Ages 13–18：This group demonstrated strong technique, ambitious concepts, and a personal voice. Many pieces could benefit from clearer visual hierarchy or more intentional stylization, but overall, their storytelling depth is striking and promising.

Ages 19–22：Mature, thoughtful, and conceptually rich. These artists are skilled in both message and medium. Refining visual clarity—through composition or contrast—can further elevate already powerful and compelling narratives.

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Belle Lee

First of all, I really love the new branding of the Jia Future Artists Award website. The new logo and overall design are very clean, modern, and perfectly suited to represent the creative spirit of aspiring young artists.

In judying, one thing I especially appreciated was the diversity of artistic mediums and themes featured. It was inspiring to see such a wide range of expression — from digital to traditional, abstract to narrative.

And for younger artists, there’s something truly special about the way children express themselves — the creativity feels boundless and uninhibited.It honestly wasn’t easy to assign scores or rank the pieces, because each artwork felt precious in its own way. And not sure if JIA has a mentorship program. It would be great if we can reconnect to any winners in the future to see how they are doing.  

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