We are accepting designs for the original Inagi City license plate

We will hold the Inagi City Original License Plate Design Contest

To commemorate the 55th anniversary of the enforcement of Inagi City's municipal system, we will newly create an original license plate for Inagi City.

The plate design will be publicly solicited in a contest format as part of the "Mechanic Designer Kunio Okawara Project"!

Qualifications

Anyone!!

If the work you submitted wins an award, you must be able to attend the award ceremony held in the morning on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Inagi Central Park
(Any work has a chance to be selected!! Please keep your schedule open and apply enthusiastically!)

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Recruitment Theme

"Mechanical City Inagi"

Note: An unpublished original design drawing expressing the charm of Inagi City

Note: "Mechanical City Inagi" is a unique initiative by Inagi City that leverages the connection with mechanical designer Kunio Okawara, who has ties to Inagi City, to energize the city through the installation of monuments and the holding of events as part of the "Mechanical Designer Kunio Okawara Project."

Note: There are no restrictions on the production method or submission medium, whether digital or analog. For digital works, please use JPEG, PNG, or PDF files (all within 5MB). Additionally, the use of generative AI (and AI assistance) in production is not allowed.

Note: It is also possible to use the official characters of Inagi City (Inagi Nashinosuke and Onekan Warrior Inagi Pedalion).

Work Regulations

1. The basic shape of the plate, etc., is as shown in the attached plate sample (hereinafter referred to as the "Sample"). When creating your design proposal, please base it on this Sample or a layout equivalent to it.

2 The design proposals you submit will be for the background design of the license plate. The symbols, numbers, and the inscriptions "Inagi City" and "INAGI" will be arranged by the organizer in accordance with laws and regulations.

3 The final size of the plate to be created will be 10 cm in height and 20 cm in width. Based on one design, we will refine it and create five types by changing the background color as listed below.

(1) Motorized bicycle (50cc or less): White
(2) Motorized bicycle (90cc or less): Yellow
(3) Motorized bicycle (125cc or less): Pink
(4) Mini car: Light blue
(5) Small special vehicle: Green

Application Requirements (Design Format)

Please download the basic template from the following link.

You can edit it directly on your computer or tablet as electronic data, or print it out and draw pictures with colored pencils, etc.…
Please create it using various methods!

• Number plate template (PDF version) (PDF 242.2KB)
• Number Plate Template (Excel Version) (Excel 19.1KB)

Current Original Number Plate of Inagi City

• Current Original Number Plate of Inagi City
  Currently, license plates featuring an illustration of the city’s image character, Inagi Nashinosuke, are being issued.
  (You are free to submit designs for newly created license plates.)

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Application Method

Please submit using one of the following methods.

(1) Submission via application form
Please send your "digital work" or "analog work that has been scanned or photographed" through the application form.

• The application form is available here(external link)

(2) Submission by Mail
Please send it by mail to the Tourism Division at Inagi City Hall (the address below). When mailing, please fill out and enclose the attached "Application Details Sheet."
Mailing address: 2111 Higashi-Naganuma, Inagi City, Inagi City Hall Tourism Division

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Award

Outstanding designs will be selected from the submitted works and awarded.

(1) About the Award-Winning Works
Three works will be selected from all submissions, and a certificate of commendation and a supplementary prize (a 10,000 yen gift certificate) will be awarded.

(2) About Number Plate Production
One of the award-winning works will be selected as the grand prize. Afterwards, Mr. Kunio Okawara will refine the design, which will become the final design for plate printing.
The creator of the Best Design Award will be presented with the original artwork of Kunio Okawara's brush-up design and an exhibit of the original plate.

Examination

1. Examination Criteria

• Expresses the charm of "Mechanical City Inagi" and fosters a sense of attachment among citizens.
• Ensures sufficient visibility as a license plate.
• Designed with the assumption of being issued and used over a long period.

2 Examination Method
After a formal review by the Tourism Division of Inagi City, the judges of this contest will decide the awards.

3 Judges
Kunio Okawara (Mechanical Designer)
Katsuhiro Takahashi (Mayor of Inagi City)

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Schedule (Planned)

Inagi City Original Number Plate Design Contest Schedule (Planned)

Contents	Timing
Call for Entries	From Monday, June 1, 2026 to Tuesday, June 30, 2026 Note: For mail submissions, entries must arrive by Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Examination	Around July to August 2026
Notification of Results	Around the end of September 2026 Note: Notifications will be sent only to applicants of winning works.
Announcement of Results and Award Ceremony	Saturday, October 24, 2026 Note: Scheduled to be held as part of the stage program at the 25th "I-no-machi Inagi Citizen Festival"
Website Publication	Results will be posted on the official Inagi City website after the announcement
Exhibition of Works	Around November 2026 Note: Scheduled at Inagi Transmission Base Pair Terrace
Start of Original Number Plate Issuance	From January 2027 onwards (planned)

Note: The schedule is subject to change. The latest information will be announced on this website.

Application Terms

1. Notes

• You can apply for as many points as you want.
• The nationality or place of residence of the applicant does not matter (see eligibility requirements). However, all procedures and Q&A necessary for application must be conducted in Japanese only.
• For applications from junior high school students or younger, prior consent from a Parent or Guardian is required.
• Past works or achievements of the applicant will not be considered in the screening process.
• Submitted works will not be returned.
• All costs related to the creation and submission of works must be borne by the applicant. The organizer will not be responsible for any damage that occurs during shipping.
• The organizer will take utmost care in managing the submitted works after acceptance, but will not be responsible for any natural disasters, unforeseen accidents, damage, or loss.
• If a work is deemed to fall under any of the following items, it will be excluded from the screening process. If it is found after the announcement of the awards that the work falls under these items, the award may be revoked without notice, and any prizes presented may be requested to be returned. Please note that no compensation will be provided for any damages arising in such cases. Furthermore, if any problems occur due to the work being recognized as falling under these items, the applicant shall bear full responsibility (including payment of money).
  (1) Those that violate public order, morals, or other laws and regulations
  (2) Those that include defamation or slander
  (3) Those that promote the activities of antisocial forces
  (4) Those that infringe on copyrights or other third-party rights
  (5) Those intended for the commercial profit or advertisement of specific companies, etc.

2. About Copyrights and Intellectual Property Rights

• The copyright of all submitted works does not automatically transfer to Inagi City upon submission; however, Inagi City and those designated by Inagi City have the right to use the submitted works free of charge and without confirming the applicant's consent for the purpose of promoting Inagi City and this project (including reproduction, printing, screening, exhibition, publication, etc.). Additionally, the works may be supplemented or modified to the necessary extent for these purposes.
• For the work selected as the Grand Prize winner (hereinafter referred to as the "Selected Work"), a brush-up by Kunio Okawara will be conducted, after which it will become the design for license plate printing (hereinafter referred to as the "Final Design"). Inagi City and those designated by Inagi City have the right to perform this brush-up. This brush-up may include not only modifications and corrections to the design but also the addition of Inagi City's official characters and others.
• The copyrights and all other rights related to the selected works and the final design (hereinafter referred to as "the Design") shall be transferred to Inagi City free of charge, and Inagi City and those designated by Inagi City shall be able to use the Design free of charge. In addition, the necessary procedures for this (such as the conclusion of a copyright transfer agreement) will be undertaken. Furthermore, applicants of the selected works agree to allow Inagi City to apply for and register intellectual property rights (such as trademarks and designs) related to the Design.
• During the review process and when realizing various rights applications, there may be inquiries made to the applicants regarding their submitted works.

3. About Personal Information

• There is a possibility that the applicant's name, pen name, etc. will be published in printed materials, exhibitions, websites, and various other media issued by the organizer.
• The personal information obtained at the time of application will not be used for purposes other than this project.

4. About the Items Described in These Application Guidelines

• Applicants are deemed to agree to the items described in these application guidelines.
• The items described in these application guidelines (such as schedules and notes) may be changed or added in the future at the discretion of the organizer. In addition, if it becomes necessary to establish matters not described in these application guidelines, they will be decided at the organizer's discretion. In such cases, applicants who have already applied and do not agree to these changes may withdraw their application; however, the organizer will not bear any costs, losses, damages, or other burdens incurred due to the application.

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Contact Information

Inagi City Hall (Phone 042-378-2111)

1. For matters related to the contest: Department of Industry, Culture, and Sports, Tourism Division, Tourism Section
2. For matters related to the style and regulations of license plates: Department of Citizen Affairs, Taxation Division, Municipal Resident Tax Section

Organizer: Inagi City
Cooperation: Kunio Okawara (Mechanical Designer)

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