Calling for "Cat Photos"! Awagami Factory, an Awa Washi Brand, Holds Photo Contest

Awagami Factory, a brand of Awa Washi with a 1300-year history, developed by Awa Handmade Washi Paper Manufacturers Cooperative (Headquarters: Yoshinogawa City, Tokushima Prefecture, Representative Director: Yoichi Fujimori), will hold the "Neko ni Awagami." cat x washi photo contest. This is the second time the contest has been held, following the first held in February of this year.

We are seeking photos that capture "moments with cats" that evoke a soft, calm texture, much like washi paper that has been loved for ages.

Some of the submitted works will be printed on washi paper and exhibited. The soft texture unique to washi paper will gently enhance the cat's expression and fur, expressing even the atmosphere captured in the photos with deep nuance.

Contest Theme: "Moments with Cats"

Moments when cats are truly relaxed, precious time spent with their owners,

Cats playing with each other, or the daily lives of community cats watched over by residents...

Please submit your "moments with cats" that show their rich expressions.

Ordinary daily scenes with cats, when layered with the texture of washi paper, become images with a deeper flavor.

We sincerely look forward to your submissions.

Contest Prizes

Gold Prize: 1 winner

- One framed work printed on Awa Washi (A3 equivalent) - A 10,000 yen coupon for the Awagami Factory online store

Silver Prize: 1 winner

- One hanging scroll printed on Awa Washi - An 8,000 yen coupon for the Awagami Factory online store

Bronze Prize: 1 winner

- One framed work printed on Awa Washi (A4) - A 5,000 yen coupon for the Awagami Factory online store

*The Gold, Silver, and Bronze prizes will be awarded based on a comprehensive evaluation of the photo's composition, expressiveness, and compatibility with washi paper, with Awagami Factory selecting the most outstanding works.

Popularity Prize: 3 winners

- A 5,000 yen coupon for the Awagami Factory online store

The Popularity Prize will be awarded to the top 3 works that receive the most votes at the exhibition venue.

Application Period

Application Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed) - September 30, 2026 (Wed)

How to Apply

1. Take a photo of your cat. 2. Enter the required information on the website's application form, upload your photo, and submit. *Only digital data will be accepted. Printed works will not be accepted. *Changes to data or content after submission cannot be made.

Application Data

- One entry per person. - About the photo: Format: jpeg, pdf, png, heic Resolution: 150dpi (recommended) File size: Up to 5MB Recommended size: 1240 x 1754 pixels (A4 equivalent) - Photos taken with a smartphone are also acceptable! *Please send without reducing image quality.

<Please Note> *Submitted works are intended to be printed in A4 size (210x297mm), but the size may change slightly due to circumstances. *If the image aspect ratio does not match, the top/bottom or left/right will be cropped. We recommend compositions where the subject is as close to the center of the image as possible. *We do not recommend applying with square images, as a considerable area will need to be cropped.

About Work Exhibition

Submitted works will be printed on washi paper and exhibited. If there are many entries, a selection will be made for exhibition.

After the exhibition, all submitted work images will be posted on the website.

2nd "Neko ni Awagami." Cat x Washi Photo Contest Photo Exhibition

Venue: Nine Gallery ■ Address: Tani-Arai Bldg. 1F, 2-10-22 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0061 ■ Exhibition Period: December 8, 2026 (Tue) - December 13, 2026 (Sun) 10:00-19:00 (until 16:00 on the final day)

A washi paper printing experience session will also be held concurrently at the photo exhibition venue!

About Judging Announcement and Prize Shipping

Judging Results

Gold, Silver, Bronze Prizes: Scheduled to be announced on the website on November 30, 2026

Popularity Prize: Scheduled to be announced on the website on December 15, 2026

Prize Shipping

Scheduled for January 2027

Contest Rules

- Works must be original photographic works (regardless of the recording medium) and must not have won awards in other contests. - Extreme manipulation or compositing of work images, and AI-generated images are not permitted. - We are seeking photographic works featuring live cats as subjects, not cat-shaped objects or paintings. - Submitted works and exhibition scenes may be used for promotional activities of this contest and future contests of a similar nature on social media, websites, etc. - If the organizer determines that a submitted work does not meet the application criteria, it will be excluded from the judging. - Copyright of submitted works belongs to the applicant. - Submitted works must not infringe on the copyrights or intellectual property rights of third parties. - The organizer shall not be held responsible for any rights infringements or claims for damages with third parties regarding submitted works. Furthermore, in the event of a dispute with a third party regarding the publication of a photograph, the applicant shall resolve such dispute at their own responsibility and expense. - Applicants may be contacted individually to request permission to use their submitted works in our promotional materials other than this contest. - Personal information provided at the time of application will only be used for tasks related to this contest and for the aforementioned promotional materials. - Matters not specified in these application terms and conditions will be handled at the discretion of the organizer. *By applying to this contest, you are deemed to have agreed to these terms and conditions.

Apply

Please apply through the application form on the official website.

https://www.awagami.or.jp/photocon/index.html

Organizer and Inquiries

Awagami Factory

1300 Kawamichi, Yamakawa-cho, Yoshinogawa City, Tokushima Prefecture

Inquiries can be made through this form.

*In the "Inquiry Details" field, please enter "Regarding the Cat Photo Contest" and then your inquiry.

Awagami Factory

"Awagami Factory" is the collective brand name for Awa Washi, which has a 1300-year history.

We have been engaged in the production of Awa Washi in Yoshinogawa City, Tokushima Prefecture for many years.

We not only protect and inherit the traditional culture of washi paper but also, as creators of new materials, are working to liberate washi paper from the realm of "tradition" and develop various techniques and research materials.

We aim to be a new hub for disseminating washi paper culture, listening to user feedback and utilizing it in modern living spaces and for future generations.

Official Site https://www.awagami.or.jp/

Online Store https://awagami.jp/

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