Welcome to Nengajo!

We will be roaring into the new year with our 2024 Nengajo contest for the Year of the Dragon. As with every year, this contest is open to original nengajo from any level from elementary to college/university. Submissions are now closed.

If you have any questions, please contact Contest Director Andy Scott at mauinihongo@gmail.com.

Please see the instructions below for eligibility, submissions, and sample lesson plans.

2024 AATJ Nengajoo Rules and Application with dragon

The AATJ Nengajo Contest is a nationwide contest for students in elementary school, middle school, high school, and university. All participants receive a certificate of participation. Winners at each level in each category also receive certificates and prizes from AATJ.

The Nengajo Contest is an excellent advocacy and teaching opportunity for your program. Many students love artistic pursuits, and this is their chance to shine in your class. It also represents an excellent chance to practice language and culture.

There are four categories for entries: Artistic, Comical, Encouragement, and Computer Generated. View the detailed descriptions of the four categories.

To get started: Review the rules and download a sample lesson plan for working with students on their New Year’s cards.

** THERE ARE 5 COMPETITION LEVELS: ELEMENTARY LOWER (K-2), ELEMENTARY HIGHER (3-5), MIDDLE SCHOOL (6-8), HIGH SCHOOL (9-12), AND COLLEGE. **

You need to be a member of AATJ for the current calendar year (January-December) in order to nominate your students. If there is more than one AATJ member at your school, each member can nominate a total of 8 students (2 students per category.) Please check your membership status before submitting the cards.

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY. To get started, please enter information about you and your school using this online form. Then, upload the cards and submit them.

Certificates of participation will be awarded to each student whose card was submitted.

Gift certificates for Amazon.com along with certificates will be awarded to all the winners.

Further details about the winners, their schools, and their teachers will be featured in the AATJ Newsletter.

If you have a question, please contact Andy Scott at: mauinihongo@gmail.com.

Bunny 2023
2023 AATJ Winning Nengajo Cards_Page_01

We hopped into the Year of the Rabbit with our 2023 Nengajo contest. As with every year, this contest was open to original artwork by students from any level from elementary to college/university.

Nengajo Hall of Fame