JETAABC is excited to invite high school students learning Japanese to participate in the 9th Annual Metro Vancouver Japan Bowl! The Japan Bowl® is a Japanese language and culture competition for high school students who are studying Japanese. The Japan-America Society of Washington DC organized and hosted the first Japan Bowl in 1992. The competition has since been expanding overseas and is now held in Poland, England, Italy, Mexico, Serbia, Bulgaria, France, etc. The inaugural Canadian Japan Bowl was held in Vancouver in 2018.
Each team is comprised of 2-3 members. During the competition, questions are read out verbally in both English and Japanese. The top three teams from the Preliminary Round will proceed to the Championship Round.
For more information, please check out this video for an overview of the Metro Vancouver Japan Bowl.
Metro Vancouver Japan Bowl 2026 Team Registration
Team Applications are to be submitted by the teacher.
Eligibility
Canadian students who study Japanese at the high school level are eligible to compete at the Japan Bowl.
- Students who are native speaker of Japanese or who use Japanese at home are not eligible to compete.
- Students who have had significant exposure to Japanese language and/or culture outside the high school curriculum are not eligible to compete. For example, students who have spent a cumulative total of three months or more in Japan might not be eligible to compete.
Application Process
- Students form teams of two or three members.
- Applications are submitted by teachers on behalf of students.
- Pay competition fees to confirm registration.
- Maximum number of teams: 30
- Schools may register up to a maximum of THREE teams
- Spots filled on a first come, first serve basis.
Registration Fees:
- EARLY BIRD: $TBC per team until January 31st, 2026
- REGULAR: $TBC per team from February 1st-February 7th, 2026
Registration Form: [coming soon]
Application Deadline: Saturday, February 7th, 2026, or when team application numbers reach capacity.
NOTE: Please note that images and videos taken during the event may be used for reports, SNS, etc.
2026 Metro Vancouver Japan Bowl Details
1．Date and Location
- Date: Saturday March 14th, 2026.
- Location: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Center
2．2026 MVJB Topics
Basic Topics:
- General Geography of Japan
- Manners & Daily Customs
- Current Events & Canada-Japan Relations
- Japanese Language and Expressions, including Body Language and Gestures
In-Depth Topics:
- Cultural Deep Dive: The “3 P’s of Sushi”
- Products: names and types of sushi, their ingredients, and accompaniments
- Practices: etiquette and vocabulary of serving and eating sushi
- Perspectives: history, evolution, and cultural significance
- Japan’s Regions: Niigata, Toyama, and Ishikawa Prefectures
- Local geography
- Local history and current events
- Specialty and local products and foods
- Major festivals, cultural heritage designations, UNESCO sites
3-Year Curriculum Topics:
- Culture & Arts: Visual Arts from Traditional to Contemporary
- Society and Social Topics: Japan and the International Economy
- History: Nara, Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi/Ashikaga, and Sengoku Periods (710-1600)
- Major historical figures and events
- Major political and economic developments
- Major cultural and social developments
New Special Topic:
By popular demand, the Metro Vancouver Japan Bowl is introducing a new basic topic this year:
- Anime and Manga:
- Products: best-selling and award-winning works
- Practices: studios, publishers, business practices, creative technologies and methods
Return here soon for more details in the 2026 Metro Vancouver Japan Bowl Study Guide.
Or download the National Japan Bowl official Study Guide and Competition Guide from their site here
Interested in supporting the competition in other ways?
Organizing Committee & Volunteers
The Metro Vancouver Japan Bowl team is looking for enthusiastic volunteers interested in working with the Organizing Committee to make 2026 Metro Vancouver Japan Bowl a success. Pre-event volunteering is already underway and will continue until the event on March 14th, and there are vacancies for day-of volunteers as well.
Fill in the volunteer form to let us know which area(s) you would be interested in helping out with.
If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact us at metrovancouverjapanbowl [at] gmail.com.
Event Sponsors & Partners
Would you like to contribute prizes or goody bag items? As a sponsor/partner, your logo would be displayed at the event and in event publications. If you are interested to learn more about the different opportunities or have questions, please email metrovancouverjapanbowl [at] gmail.com.
Performers & Workshop Instructors
In additional to the competition, the day’s programming includes performances by local artists as well as cultural or skill workshops that enrich student’s experience with different aspects of Japanese culture. If you would like to learn more, please email metrovancouverjapanbowl [at] gmail.com.