Title

Japan International Jazz Competition (JIJC)

Overview

The Japan International Jazz Competition (JIJC) aims to become one of the leading jazz competitions in Asia by discovering outstanding talent and supporting the career development of musicians who will lead the global music scene.
Applicants will be evaluated by internationally active professional musicians based on the richness and depth of groove, soulfulness, musical expression, technical ability, and ensemble performance with fellow musicians. Judging will be conducted fairly and rigorously.

Schedule of Competition

First round of screening (Audio Submission Screening)

Application Deadline: August 31, 2026 (Mon)

Finalists Announcement

September 15, 2026 (Tue)

Finalists Orientation

October 16, 2026 (Fri)
Performance order lottery
Orientation session

Final Round

October 17, 2026 (Sat) Hiroshima Jazz – Minamoa Stage

Winner's Performance

October 18, 2026 (Sun) around noon Hiroshima Jazz – Gate Park Stage The First Prize Winner will give a 45-minute performance.
Detailed information regarding the Orientation, Final Round, and Winner’s Performance will be provided to finalists by the competition office after finalist selection.

Recruitment Information

Eligibility

Open to applicants of all nationalities. Both professional and amateur musicians are eligible. Applicants of all instruments and vocalists are eligible.

Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• 1. Must be 25 years old or younger as of October 17, 2026.
• 2. Must be a solo instrumentalist or solo vocalist.
• 3. Applicants under 18 years of age must have parental/guardian consent.
• 4. Finalists under 18 years of age must submit a parental consent form.
• 5. Applicants participating from overseas are responsible for obtaining any required visa(s) and completing all immigration procedures at their own responsibility and expense.
• 6. Applicants participating from overseas must enter Japan lawfully and conduct their activities in compliance with Japanese laws and regulations.
• 7. Must not be affiliated with organized crime groups or other antisocial organizations.
• 8. Must not be involved in criminal activities or conduct that may cause social disrepute.


• Any applicant found to be in violation of the eligibility requirements may be disqualified from the competition or have any award revoked, at the sole discretion of the Organizing Committee.

Entry Fee

Free of Charge

Travel and Accommodation

Applicants selected for the Final Round are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.
Participants are strongly encouraged to arrange accommodation for three nights (October 16–19, 2026), as the Winner’s Performance is scheduled at approximately noon on October 18.

Application Period

July 17, 2026 – August 31, 2026

Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted through the official online application form.

• [Required Information]
• ・Full Name
• ・Date of Birth
• ・Age
• ・Nationality
• ・Address
• ・Postal Code
• ・Telephone Number
• ・Email Address
• ・Years of Musical Experience
• ・Performance Category (Instrument or Vocal)
• ・Biography and Career History
• ・Submitted Piece Information (Title / Composer)
• ・Upload URL for Submitted Recordings

Apply Here

Preliminary Round (Audio Submission Screening)

Submission Deadline

August 31, 2026 (Mon)

Required Recordings

Applicants must submit the following three recordings:
1. Set Piece 1
2. Set Piece 2
3. Free-Choice Piece

Set Piece 1

Applicants must select a jazz musician born before 1940 and perform a transcription of a solo from any recording by that musician.
There is no restriction on the duration of the performance. Evaluation will be based on the accuracy and authenticity of the transcription in relation to the original recording.
Performing a longer portion of the transcribed solo may be viewed favorably.

• In solo performances, a metronome must be used as quarter-note accompaniment.
• In duo or ensemble performances, the use of a metronome is optional.

Set Piece 2

Choose one of the following standards:

• ・There Will Never Be Another You
• ・Bye Bye Blackbird
• ・All The Things You Are
• Tempo: BPM = 111 (for all songs)

Free-Choice Piece

・Perform any piece of your choice with any instrumentation.
・Performance length must not exceed 5 minutes.

Audio Submission Guidelines

• ・Submit audio files for all three pieces. (Set Piece 1, Set Piece 2, and Free-choice Piece)
• ・Audio files must be in MP3 or equivalent audio format.
• ・Combine all three recordings into a single ZIP file.
• ・Upload the ZIP file to an online file-sharing service.
• ・Enter the download URL in the application form.
• ・Name audio files with your name and 1, 2, or 3 as follows:
• 　johnsmith1.mp3 (Set Piece 1)
• 　johnsmith2.mp3 (Set Piece 2)
• 　johnsmith3.mp3 (Choice Piece)

General Rules for Recordings

• ・Performing with backing tracks is permitted.
• ・High-quality audio recordings are recommended.
• ・Recordings deemed to be of insufficient audio quality may be excluded from evaluation.
• ・Applicants may choose any ensemble format from solo performance up to a quartet.

Final Round (Hiroshima Jazz Minamoa Stage)

Location

October 17, 2026 (Sat)
Hiroshima Jazz ~Peace & Music~　Minamoa Stage
Soramoa Plaza, 9th Floor, minamoa
2-37 Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima, Japan

Final Round Format

• ・Approximately eight finalists will be selected.
• ・Each finalist will perform:
  One assigned set piece corresponding to the contestant’s performance order
  Two free-choice pieces
• ・Vocalists may request key changes for assigned repertoire.
• ・The performance must be played entirely from memory, without the use of sheet music.
• ・Applicants may choose the order of the three pieces and the tempos of their selected pieces at their own discretion and must submit this information during the orientation session following the drawing of lots for the performance order.
• ・Lead sheets for the free-choice piece must be submitted by September 30, 2026.

Set Pieces Assigned to Each Performance Order

• [Order 1]
  What is this thing called Love? (Cole Porter)
  Key: C
• [Order 2]
  Woodin’ You (Dizzy Gillespie)
  Key: Db
• [Order 3]
  Hot House(Dizzy Gillespie)
  Key: C
• [Order 4]
  Airgine (Sonny Rollins)
  Key: Ab
• [Order 5]
  Old Milestones (John Lewis)
  Key: Bb
• [Order 6]
  UMMG (Billy Strayhorn)
  Key: Db
• [Order 7]
  Conception (George Shearing)
  Key: Db
• [Order 8]
  Straight Street (John Coltrane)
  Key: Eb-

Final Round Performance

• ・Maximum performance time: 20 minutes
• ・One set piece and two free-choice pieces
• ・Applicants will perform with the official competition piano trio, excluding any musician who plays the same instrument as the applicant.

 

Example:

1. Drum applicants perform with Shingo Kano (Piano) and Takumi Awaya (Bass)

2. Saxophone applicants perform with Shingo Kano (Piano) and Takumi Awaya (Bass) and Charles Goold (drums).

The organizers reserve the right to change the venue, schedule, or performance format due to weather conditions or operational requirements.

Judges

• Takeshi Ohbayashi (Chair, Hiroshima Jazz Executive Committee)
  

  Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1987, Takeshi Ohbayashi enrolled at Berklee College of Music after receiving its highest-level scholarship. He began his professional career as a member of the band led by Grammy Award-winning artist Terri Lyne Carrington. As a member of J-Squad, he contributed to the opening theme music for TV Asahi's news program Hodo Station. Since 2021, he has served as bandmaster for MISIA and has remained active in a wide range of musical projects and performances.

• Takumi Awaya (Bass)
  

  Originally from Kitami, Hokkaido, Japan.
  Influenced by his father, a tenor saxophonist, and his mother, a pianist, Takumi Awaya joined his father's jazz band at the age of 11. Based in Sapporo from 2005, he performed extensively throughout Japan before relocating to Tokyo in 2020. He has toured with renowned pianists Barry Harris and Benny Green and was a regular member of the Sadao Watanabe Band for several years beginning in 2014. In 2023, he released Breeze Suite / Takumi Awaya Trio Live at ALFIE.

• Shingo Kano (Piano)
  

  Jazz Pianist, Composer, and Arranger
  Shingo Kano began playing the piano at the age of six. After enrolling in the Popular Music Program at Osaka University of Arts, he developed a strong passion for jazz. His accolades include winning the Grand Prix at the Kobe Next Jazz Competition and the Naniwa Jazz Award. He has also performed at the French Quarter Jazz Festival in the United States. In 2016, he relocated to New York. In addition to leading his own piano trio and performing with various ensembles, he also appeared in performance scenes for the NHK television drama series Come Come Everybody and Boogie Woogie. Specially Appointed Lecturer, Department of Performance, Osaka University of Arts

• To be announced soon

  Additional judges to be announced.

Awards

• First Prize - JPY 300,000
  Opportunity to perform at the Hiroshima Jazz Gate Park Stage on October 18. 2026.
• Second Prize - JPY 150,000
• Third Prize - JPY 70,000

• The jury reserves the right not to award any prize if it deems it appropriate.
• Information regarding prize payment and applicable tax withholding will be provided to winners after the competition.

Copyright, Image Rights, and Promotional Use

• 1. Copyright in submitted recordings shall remain with the applicant.
• 2. The organizers may use submitted recordings solely for judging purposes, without limitation as to time or territory.
• 3. Applicants warrant that the submitted materials do not infringe any third-party rights.
• 4. Submitted recordings shall not be used for broadcasting, web streaming, advertising, promotional, or other commercial purposes.
• 5. The copyright and neighboring rights in photographs, videos, and recordings created by the organizers during the competition and orientation shall belong to the organizers.
• 6. The organizers and sponsors may use participants’ names, stage names, affiliated organizations, photographs, videos, and recordings in television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, websites, social media, posters, and other promotional media, without compensation and without limitation as to time or territory.
• 7. Participants waive any claims relating to portrait rights, rights of publicity, privacy rights, or similar rights.

Important Notes / Disclaimer

• 1. Submitted materials will not be returned.
• 2.Applicants under the age of 18 must obtain the consent of a parent or legal guardian before submitting an application.
• 3. Personal information will be used solely for the administration of the competition and for communication with participants.
• 4. The competition may be cancelled, suspended, or postponed due to force majeure, including but not limited to natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, or other circumstances beyond the organizers’ reasonable control.
• 5. The organizers shall not be responsible for any travel, accommodation, or other expenses incurred as a result of such cancellation, suspension, or postponement.
• 6. The organizers accept no liability for any accidents, injuries, losses, or damages incurred during travel to or from the venue.
• 7. The organizers shall not be responsible for any loss, theft, damage to, or malfunction of instruments, equipment, or personal belongings.
• 8. Participants who are unable to communicate effectively in either Japanese or English must arrange for an interpreter at their own expense and responsibility.
• 9. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the competition shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Hiroshima District Court.
• 10. These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan.

Organizer

Hiroshima Jazz ~ Peace & Music ~ Executive Committee

Contact

h.jazz@home-tv.co.jp