Winners of MEXT Prize in the Plant Arts Competition announced: Hosted by the National Museum of Nature and Science

The National Museum of Nature and Science (Taito City, Tokyo; Kenichi Shinoda, President) decided the prize winners in the Plant Arts Competition. A total of 957 artworks (279 in the Elementary Schooler Division and 678 in the Junior/Senior High Schooler Division) were sent for this year's 40th competition by applicants across the country. After examination, 66 award-winning works were decided, including the 2 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prizes. The prize-winning artworks were exhibited at Tsukuba Botanical Garden between Jan 27 - Feb 12, and will move to Ueno Main Building between July 2 - July 21 and the Institute for Nature Study from late September to early November.

"Watermelon," the artwork of Ichiko Yamamoto, a third grader at Ashihara Elementary School, Toyohashi City, won the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize in the Elementary Schooler Division. "The excellency lies in the drawing style which honestly expressed the applicant's interest and feelings toward the watermelon." The judges commented, "She accurately expressed the patterns and light reflection on the subject's surface. Moreover, the artwork is very pleasant owing to the subject's dynamic and unique cross-section."

The National Museum of Nature and Science President Prize went to "Potato 'Kita-akari,'" drawn by Yoshika Okabayashi, a sixth grader in Kushiro Compulsory Education School, Lower Secondary Level, Hokkaido University of Education. The Tsukuba Botanical Garden President Prize was awarded to "Eggplant," drawn by Yuzuki Kamesako, a fifth grader at Shotoku Gakuen Elementary School.

"Zinnia," drawn by Shin Ota, a junior at Ishikawa Technical Senior High School won the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize in the Junior/Senior High Schooler Division. The judges commented, "The expression in the artwork was depicted beyond the conventional way of drawing plants and beautifully grasped the exquisite moment of a zinnia. The gradation on the leaves and the cross-sectional view of the capitulum convey the artist's intention to express their observation through feelings."

The National Museum of Nature and Science President Prize went to "Arctic Iris," drawn by Momoka Shoji, a third grader at Akan Junior High School, Kushiro City. The Tsukuba Botanical Garden President Prize was awarded to "Pittosporum Illicioides," drawn by Mio Matsuo, a junior at the Senior High School attached to the University of Hyogo.