The 5th
Ikimon Coloring
Contest
Call for Participants

We are holding the 5th Annual Ikimon Coloring Contest!

The theme this time is the “Hair”.

The skin which covers the surface of our body is in fact the largest organ of human body. It is the hairs on the skin that help us to sense pain, itchiness, and hot and cold, to lower our body temperature by producing sweat, and to form goose bumps to protect us from the cold.

Color and explore the base of the skin hair follicle, which has a range of different functions.

How to enter the contest

Contest period

October 1 (Tue) - October 25 (Fri)

How to color your work

Create your work using one of the following two methods.

1. Download the coloring page file to color.

Download the Ikimon coloring page "Hair" from the link below, and color as you like. You can use digital or traditional methods to color the picture. You can also use any coloring material (colored pencils, crayons, paints, etc.) of your choice.

Ikimon coloring page "Hair" (PNG format for digital coloring)（0.1MB） Ikimon coloring page "Hair" (PDF format for print; 0.5MB)

2. Color online

You can color the picture online from your web browser by accessing the Ikimon Coloring website.
You can save the colored picture and post it directly to X (formerly, Twitter) after completion. To post on X, you will need an X account.

How to enter the contest

Submit your colored Ikimon coloring page of the "Hair" using one of the following methods.

1. Via X (formerly, Twitter)

Post the image file of the colored picture with the hashtag #IkimonColoringHair in the message post.
To be considered for the Children's category prize, please include the age of the individual who colored the work in the message post, or inform us of the age of the individual via direct message (DM).

2. Via email

Send a photo or image file of the colored picture as an attachment to an email with the subject line, "Ikimon coloring contest" and also include the nickname (pen name) of the entrant. To be considered for the Children's category prize, please include the age of the individual who colored the work in the body of the email.
Email: riken-nurie[a]ml.riken.jp
*Replace [a] with @

During the period of October 1 to 7, 2024, we were unable to receive entries made by email for the contest. We would like to ask that those who sent in submissions via email during this period to resubmit their works. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Announcement of winning submissions

The first round of judging will be conducted as a public vote at the RIKEN Open Day in KOBE on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
Submissions selected through the first round will then go through a second round of judging, with the final winning submissions to be announced on this website at the end of November.
Winners will be selected for Gold Prize, Silver Prize, Judge's Special Recognition Award (Bronze) and Children's categories.
All winners will receive a special souvenir. Winners will be contacted individually after the official announcement.

Regarding submissions

Entries should be submitted as jpg or png format images.

RIKEN will retain the copyright of images of submitted works.

Images of submitted works may be posted on website or social media managed by RIKEN and RIKEN-affiliated entities.

Nickname or account name of winning submissions will be posted on the website.

Winners will be notified by direct message (DM) for submissions made by X, or by email for submissions made by email. For those who submit via X, please follow @BDR_RIKEN or enable our account to "receive messages from anyone." For those who submit via email, please ensure that you can receive emails from "@riken.jp" or "@ml.riken.jp"

Please note that we cannot send the prize to the winner if we do not recieve a response to the notification from the winner.

The recipient of the Children's Category Prize will be selected from the submitted works of those 12 years and under. To be considered for the Children's Category, please include the age of the individual who colored the work in the Tweet message or in a DM, or in the email.

The following submissions will be disqualified

Submission of works other than the Ikimon Coloring Page "Hair"

Submission of works that have altered the Ikimon Coloring Page "Hair"

Submission of works that contain privacy-related information, such as the full name of the entrant.

Works containing content that is offensive to public order and morals.

Works that infringes on the copyright of others.

The organizers reserve the right to disqualify a submission.

We will not respond to any inquiries regarding the selection process.