The 10th Annual Yamaha Children's Seascape Painting Contest Selection of the winning entries and introduction of the judges.

The Japan Marine Sports Promotion Foundation will hold the final judging and will announce the winners of The 10th Annual Yamaha Childre's Seascape Painting Contest on Monday, November 9, 1998. The winners will be selected at the Toranomon Pastoral in Minato Ward, Tokyo.

By having elementary and nursery school children paint scenes of the ocean and beaches, the Foundation seeks to give the natio's children a valuable opportunity to increase their understanding and awareness of the sea. This contest also aims to help cultivate in them the spirit of protecting the earth's environment.

This year's themes include; "The Beautiful Ocean" (environmental conservation), "The Working Ocean" (fisheries, wharves, etc.), and "Ocean Fun" (marine sports and swimming pools). The contest received 9,125 entries from the categories! Subjects of the paintings ranged from multi-colored schools of fishswimming in the beautiful ocean to scenes of catching and processing fish for food to children surrounded by their friends at swimming pools. The rich sensitivity expressed in the works conveys a powerful message from these children; the future leaders of the 21st Century.

A panel of seven judges chaired by Mr. Kazuo Kudo (Chairman of the artists group, Sogenkai and a member of Nitten) will evaluate the works in the three categories; upper elementary (4-6th grade), lower elementary (1-3rd grade) and nursery school-age. Awards in each category will include; two Gold prizes, one Japan Fisherina Association Chairman's Prize, one Kaiyo Recreation Association Chairman's Prize, one Yamaha Motor Company Prize, four Silver prizes, six Bronze prizes and ten Honorable Mention awards.

This year, two guest judges will bring a fresh perspective to the contest; Mr. Satoru Murai and Ms. Miho Minami. Mr. Murai is the Chairman of the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan. This year's contest was in association with "The International Year of the Ocean." The UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission suggested the idea and the title was adopted. Ms. Minami of Tokushima Prefecture was asked to join the panel of judges to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the contest. She was the winner of the Gold prize for the upper elementary division in the first contest, held in 1989.

The winning paintings will be displayed at Yamaha Motor booth at the Tokyo International Boat Show held from February 10-14, 1999. They will also be displayed at other Yamaha event sites throughout Japan and on the Yamaha Motor Internet home page. Worldwide release of the contest results should increase the international recognition of the contest.

Monday, November 9, 1998

Chairman
Mr. Kazuo Kudo, chairman of the artists' group Sogenkai (member of Nitten)
Panelists
Mr. Hideki Hata, acting chairman of the Japan Fisherina Association Mr. Yoshiro Hattori, honorary member of the Kaiyo Recreation Association and the Japan Game Fishing Association
Mr. Satoru Murai, chairman of the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan
Ms. Miho Minami, the winner of the Gold prize in the upper elementary division in the 1st Yamaha Children's Seascape Painting Contest Mr. Takashi Kajikawa, director of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Mr. Hideto Eguchi, chairman of the Japan Marine Sports Promotion Foundation

Outline of the Yamaha Children's Seascape Painting Contest