Announcing the 3 Category Winners and the Staff Choice Award
The SAF Japan Office recently held the "SAF Japan Photo Contest" to share the irreplaceable moments and emotions captured by students during their study abroad journeys.
The theme for this contest was "My Study Abroad Story." We received an overwhelming number of entries—surpassing all expectations—that captured local landscapes, the people encountered, and the personal transformations experienced by the participants. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who applied.
This contest, which was held annually from 2016 to 2020, has officially resumed for the first time since the pandemic. Furthermore, as we mark the 25th anniversary of SAF’s founding, receiving so many stories from study abroad alumni has made this a truly meaningful and commemorative celebration for us.
After a rigorous judging and voting process, the following three individuals have been selected as winners. Our sincerest congratulations to all of you!
Category 1: Celebration
Photographer: Koko Takahashi
Host University: Université Catholique de l'Ouest (France)
Term: Fall 2025
Winning Comment: "Students from Vietnam and Japan introduced each other to their national dishes. My friend brought a giant Dorayaki, and it was a huge hit! It was a moment where students from different cultural backgrounds came together, and smiles spread naturally through food."
This photo warmly captures a "celebratory moment" that transcends borders—the kind of moment that is uniquely born from the study abroad experience.
Category 2: My Favorite Place
Photographer: Hana Hirohashi
Program: IES Abroad Community Development in Cape Town, South Africa
Term: Summer 2025
Winning Comment: "The penguins of Cape Town."
This shot comes from a participant in our study tour program in South Africa, which was launched for the first time this past year (2025). It is a lovely and memorable scene from Cape Town. Even without words, the atmosphere and the photographer's affection for the place shine through, showing us how a "favorite place" becomes etched into one's life memories.
Category 3: Study Abroad Changed My Life
Photographer: Ryo Tsukioka
Program: IES Abroad Dublin Study Tour on Communications & Culture
Term: Summer 2025
Winning Comment: "I took this photo in Ireland. People often view rainy weather negatively, but it was because of that rain that I was able to see a rainbow—the kind you rarely see in Japan. The value of things changes depending on how you perceive them. I put that realization into this photo."
A change in how one "sees" their environment and events—that is one of the greatest transformations study abroad brings to a person's life. This work quietly yet powerfully tells the story of the inner growth achieved through study abroad.
SAF Staff Choice Award
The "SAF Staff Choice Award" was given to a work that, while narrowly missing the category win, left a strong impression on our team. This year's award goes to an entry from Category 3:
Photographer: Sosuke Fukushima
Host University: University of Otago (New Zealand)
Term: Spring 2025
Comment: "Herding experience in New Zealand."
This photo, capturing a herding experience amidst vast nature, quietly conveys the reality of learning beyond the classroom and touching values tied to the land. The staff highly praised this photo for eloquently speaking to the theme "Study Abroad Changed My Life" without needing special words. And above all... the lamb is adorable!
Connecting Through Photos: Study Abroad and the Life Beyond
The works submitted to this contest reminded us that "study abroad is an experience that does not end when the moment passes."
Thank you again to everyone who entered. Even among the works that did not win an award, there were many wonderful and moving photographs. Please check them out on the SAF Japan Official Instagram (@saf_japan).
SAF will continue to cherish and share the stories of every individual who experiences study abroad. Please look forward to our future contests!
