Tech Koshien 2026: A New Frontier for Youth Innovation Launches – Participant Recruitment Begins June 16

Marui Group Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Hiroshi Aoi, hereinafter 'Marui Group') and Life is Tech! Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yusuke Mizuno) jointly announce the launch of 'Tech Koshien,' a nationwide innovation platform for junior and senior high school students that combines creative ideas with practical implementation. The final event will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2026, with participant recruitment beginning Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

About Tech Koshien

The 'App Koshien,' held continuously since 2011 for 15 years, will be renamed 'Tech Koshien' starting with this year's event. While the competition previously focused on app development by high school students, recent years have seen a significant expansion in technological expression, including games and web services. Moreover, with the advancement of generative AI, the barrier to 'making' has lowered, while the importance of questions like 'what to create' and 'why to create it' has increased. In response to this context, the competition is evolving into a platform that evaluates ideas and implementation as a unified whole, regardless of the tools used. Tech Koshien aims to support middle and high school students in thinking independently, materializing their ideas, and delivering them to society.

This year, the competition has revised three key aspects. While the event remains divided into 'Development Division' and 'Idea Division,' changes have been introduced to both categories. These changes aim to prioritize the value of 'how it is used in society' over technical differences, amid the diversification of development methods due to technological evolution.

- Integration of Development Division into 'Product (App/Web Service/Game) Division'

Previously, the Development Division was further divided into 'General Development' and 'AI Development' categories. Starting this year, these will be unified and reorganized into a single 'Product (App/Web Service/Game) Division.'

- Refreshed Evaluation Criteria for Product Division: From 5 to 3 Key Metrics

Judging will emphasize social implementation (actual use in society), and only publicly deployed works will be eligible for evaluation. Entries will be assessed on three criteria: 'Vision,' 'User Experience,' and 'Delivery' (Delivery evaluation only at the final event).

For details, please visit the official website: https://techkoshien.jp

- Introduction of Stage Presentation at Finals for Idea Division / School-Based Applications Now Accepted

Previously, only award winners from the Idea Division presented at the award ceremony. Starting this year, finalists in the Idea Division will deliver stage presentations during the final event, transforming it into a direct platform for communicating ideas. Additionally, applications are now accepted not only from individuals and teams but also from schools as a whole. Tech Koshien aims to support more middle and high school students in shaping their ideas and sharing them with society.

Recruitment Overview

- Application Deadlines

Product (App/Web Service/Game) Division: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 17:00 JST

Idea Division: Monday, September 28, 2026, 17:00 JST

- Final Event

Date: Sunday, December 6, 2026

Venue: Co-Creation HALL, 3F, Marui Group Headquarters

※ For more details, please visit the dedicated website:

https://techkoshien.jp

※ To view highlights from the previous event, visit:

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003928.000003860.html

Marui Group's Vision

Marui Group's mission is to 'co-create an inclusive society where everyone can feel happiness.' To achieve this, the company promotes 'co-creation management,' collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including future generations, to generate value. Through its business, Marui Group aims to balance social impact with profitability. One of its key impact goals is to 'co-create the future with the next generation.' This competition, co-hosted with Life is Tech! Inc., is a direct manifestation of this vision. We believe the values and creativity of the next generation—our future—are the driving force for positive societal change. Through this event, we aim to strongly support the challenges of future generations across society.

About Life is Tech! Inc.

Company Name: Life is Tech! Inc.

Headquarters: Minami-Azabu Building 1F, 2-12-3 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047

Main Phone: 03-5877-4879

URL: https://lifeistech.co.jp

President & CEO: Yusuke Mizuno

About Marui Group Co., Ltd.

Company Name: Marui Group Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: 4-3-2 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-8701

Main Phone: 03-3384-0101 Fax: 03-5343-6615

URL: https://www.0101maruigroup.co.jp/

President & CEO: Hiroshi Aoi

Major Affiliated Companies: Epoca Card Co., Ltd., Marui Co., Ltd., M&C Systems Co., Ltd., among others