In the “Umi & Sakana (ocean and fish)” Children’s Research and Artwork Competition, children are invited to submit their works of research on the wonders and surprises of the ocean and fish based on efforts driven by imagination unique to children, as well as their creative works in which such wonders and surprises are expressed in the form of pictures, essays, etc. The Competition is open not only to elementary school students in Japan but also to elementary school students attending Japanese schools and supplementary schools outside Japan. Since the first Competition in 1982, Nissui has continued to co-sponsor the Competition.
With the objective of providing a place to learn through experience, competition-related events are also held, namely, school visits and hands-on learning.
From a different angle than in school classes, creativity is exercised so that children can learn about things that they can only hear about there and then. Our hope is that children will gain an interest in “umi (ocean)” and “sakana (fish)” through the Competition as a whole.
Special website of Umi & Sakana Children’s Research and Artwork Competition (in Japanese)
In collaboration with researchers and experts in marine life, the program provides children with specialized knowledge in an accessible way, going beyond what they usually learn in school. As a sponsor, Nissui actively participates in the initiative by providing instructors, and in 2023, an employee involved in shrimp aquaculture research at the Central Research Laboratory Oita Marine Biological Technology Center gave a lecture on the life cycle of shrimp. In addition, online classes were held to reveal the secrets of fish colors and introduce deep-sea creatures, with a total of 1,479 elementary school students from 35 schools nationwide participating.
Participation by 35 schools nationwide (1,479 students)! Online Lesson Reports:
![[Photo] Online lesson by Nissui Corporation](/assets/img/site/123/123_28_img-01.webp)
Online lesson by Nissui Corporation
There are eight awards, for which 16 works are selected as winners of the top prize in two divisions, i.e., “Research Division” and “Artwork Division.” Two pieces of work that won the Nissui Award are showcased below.
Creatures Found on the Sea Shore: A Capture and Study Guide
Kei Ishida,
First-grader at Nitobebunka Elementary School
World of the Future
Akito Fukui,
Second-grader at Kashiwa Municipal Tanakakita Elementary School
![[Picture] Kei Ishida](/assets/img/site/123/123_84_img-01.webp)
![[Picture] Akito Fukui](/assets/img/site/123/123_84_img-02.webp)