ITOCHU Announces ITOCHU and JAL Jointly Establish the Envisioning Travel in 2035 Sustainable Tourism Essay Contest to Develop the Next Generation
October 1, 2026
ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Keita Ishii, President & COO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that it and Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (Headquartered in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Mitsuko Tottori, Representative Director, President and Group CEO; hereinafter “JAL”) will hold their first sustainable tourism essay contest for university and graduate students. This new initiative will enable the general trading company and airline company, which are connecting the world, to explore what can be achieved through sustainable tourism as society moves toward 2035.
Since entering into an industry-academia-government collaboration agreement with Uken Village and Sophia School Corporation in 2023 to protect the environment and revitalize the region in Uken Village on Amami Oshima, ITOCHU and JAL have been engaged in initiatives such as mangrove planting programs and nature and local culture experience tours for students. Through these efforts, the two companies have worked to foster the next generation of environmental leaders and promote sustainable regional revitalization.
Through this essay contest, ITOCHU and JAL aim to develop the next generation of leaders who will drive sustainability and to identify new ideas in research and business. Prizes, including a grand prize and special awards will be presented to encourage students to take on this challenge.
Please see the dedicated website and the outline of the application process below for more information. ITOCHU and JAL look forward to receiving applications from many students.
Dedicated Envisioning Travel in 2035 JAL and ITOCHU Sustainable Tourism Essay Contest website
(Japanese only)
International students are also welcome to submit their entries in English.
Please refer to the English application guidelines available on the website.
Application Overview
| Application Period | October 1, 2026 (Thu) – January 11, 2027 (Mon, Japanese National Holiday) 23:59 JST |
|---|---|
| Theme | Tackling Social Issues in 2035: Vision for Next-Generation Sustainable Tourism |
| Evaluation Criteria (Key Pillars) |
JAL, ITOCHU Corporation, and the external judges will evaluate whether the following four key pillars are logically structured. 1. Issue Definition (Future Projection for 2035) 2. Measures (Tech-Driven Sustainable Solutions) 3. Value Creation ( Sanpo-yoshi Realization) 4. Global Perspective |
| Required Submissions and Word Count (For submissions in English) |
1. Research Essay Paper: • Abstract: Approx. 200 - 250 words • Main Text: Approx. 2,000 - 2,500 words 2. Japanese translation of the paper 3. Presentation slides (for review and to be used for your presentation at the award ceremony) |
| Panel of Judges | • Prof. Akemi Ori (Professor, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Sophia University) • Prof. Norichika Kanie (Professor, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University) • Yoshiya Omura (President and CEO, JALPAK Co., Ltd.) • Mio Kitayama (Senior Researcher, Industrial Research Center, ITOCHU Research Institute Inc.) |
| Announcement of Winners | Scheduled for early March 2027 |
| Award Ceremony | March 16, 2027 (Tue) 13:00 JST at ITOCHU Corporation Tokyo Head Office (Minato-ku, Tokyo). Winners will deliver a brief presentation. |
| Prizes and Awards | • Grand Prize (1 person): JAL Travel Voucher (equivalent to 500,000 JPY). • JAL Award (1 person): JAL Travel Voucher (equivalent to 250,000 JPY). • ITOCHU Award (1 person): JAL Travel Voucher (equivalent to 250,000 JPY). • The above 3 winners + Honorable Mentions (7 people) will receive: - Outdoor brand products handled by ITOCHU Corporation - JAL SKY MUSEUM pair admission tickets |
| Eligibility | 1. Undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled in universities/graduate schools in Japan. 2. Must be able to attend the Award Ceremony held at ITOCHU Corporation Tokyo Head Office. |
| Application Method | Submit online via the application form link with attached files. |
| Organizers and Contact | Organizers: ITOCHU Corporation, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. Co-organizers: JALPAK Co., Ltd., JAL Air Future Lab Co., Ltd. Secretariat Contact Email: jal-itochu-contest@itochu.co.jp |