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NEWS2026.05.19
- Entries are now open for the KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition.
Reason for Event
To Support New Creators
for the Future of Hat Culture
For over 40 years, KAI has supported "cutting" and "crafting" in the apparel industry and craft
studios.
The KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition was launched after an encounter with Nobuki Hizume,
one of the world's leading hat and head-piece designers, who reminded us that "scissors underpin
creation".
In addition, KAI and Mr. Hizume
collaborated to create Ō, a range of products that redefines sewing scissors, with the goal of
creating the world's best scissors which are essential for hat making.
However, the number of
people aspiring to become hat designers is decreasing
every year, and so is the number of people involved in the hat industry in Japan.
Hats are an essential fashion item.
Wearing a hat can give you confidence and help you find a
new you.
We believe that hats are culture that enriches our daily lives.
The Hat &
Head-piece Competition will be held again this year
to redefine hat culture and support new creators to bring the best hats to everyone and to
discover talented creators who will be active not only in Japan but also all over the world,
creating the hat culture of the future.
2026 Design Theme
When someone is lost in what they're doing, you can't look away.
That heat travels to the
people around them, and before you know it, it draws them in and sets them in motion.
Take
that "this is it" feeling inside you and throw it into
a piece no one has seen yet.
There is only one rule in this contest. That what you make is
something that can be worn on the head.
Designers who have spent years with hats, students taking on a headpiece for the first
time, creators bringing techniques and perspectives from other fields.
There is no right
answer. All you need is your own heat. We look forward
to encountering the pieces born from that obsession.
Archive
See past winners from the contest list below.
Judging Criteria
The KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition will be judged
on
the five criteria shown below.
Does the work add a new perspective to the hat? Is it original?
Is the theme incorporated into the concept and clearly expressed?
Does the artist have the techniques to express the design in the work? Does the creator have a high level of skill in hat making?
Is the concept expressed in the work? Is the design expressed exactly in the work (or even better)?
Is the work wearable as a hat, and is it made from the perspective of the wearer?
Judges / Adviser
NOBUKI HIZUME
In 2004, after graduating at the top of the Apparel Design course at Bunka Fashion College, NOBUKI HIZUME moved to Italy, where he presented collections as an underwear designer for an Italian manufacturer. After returning to Japan, he created hats and headpieces for stage productions and musicians both at home and abroad, while simultaneously developing his artistic practice under the name “NOBUKI HIZUME.” In 2009, he relocated to France, where he has created hats for the Paris collections of numerous grandes maisons. In 2019, he was awarded the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF). *The Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) is a title conferred on artisans whose advanced skills make them worthy custodians of French cultural heritage. It is said to be equivalent to Japan's Important Intangible Cultural Property certification system (commonly known as “Living National Treasure”). That same year, he launched his own hat brand, “HIZUME.” In autumn 2024, he appeared on MBS's documentary program Jonetsu Tairiku, and he has since broadened his activities further, including producing hats for COMME des GARÇONS' 2026 Autumn/Winter collection — among other projects that mark his growing prominence in recent years.
YO SUZUKI
He oversees marketing and design as CCO / CMO at Kai Corporation, a global cutlery manufacturer, and concurrently serves as CCO at Great Works, a Swedish-born creative company. In recent years, working as a creative director, he has been active across a wide range of fields — producing creative and corporate promotional work both in Japan and abroad, directing the video and creating the stage backdrops for actress Mari Natsuki's performance piece “PLAY×PRAY,” and serving as an executive advisor for “Shibuya SAUNAS,” the sauna facility produced by manga artist Katsuki Tanaka. In 2019, he was selected for Forbes JAPAN's “39 Designers Who Will Change the World” feature, and in 2021 he was named one of Nikkei BP's “Marketer of the Year 2021.” He is the brand director of the grooming brand AUGER.
YUYA NARA
He has been engaged in salon work at SHIMA, a trend-setting salon in Tokyo, while also working internationally as a hair and makeup artist for overseas artists and celebrities. He is active across fashion magazines and industry publications, as well as hair shows and collections. Beyond hair and makeup, he also works as a model and DJ, making him a true fashion icon in Tokyo with a wide range of activities.
TORU KURIHARA
President of Kurihara Corporation. Born in Hyogo prefecture. After graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University, he started working at World Co., Ltd., a major apparel manufacturer. Some time later, he joined the family business Kurihara, and succeeded in opening a casual hat specialty store "override" in the area called Ura-Harajuku. Since that time, he has been realizing the development of multiple stores through directly managed stores. In 2003, he was appointed to president.
Contest Schedule
Production costs of 20,000 yen will be paid to those who succeed in the first round and go on to the second round.
*The contest schedule is subject to change without prior notice.
Entry Overview
■Theme
Lose Yourself
■Entry Period
Tuesday 19th May - 23:59 Wednesday 12th August 2026
■Work Conditions
If you progress past the first round, it must be possible to produce your piece and have it arrive by Wednesday 11th November.
- *The submitted works must be unpublished original works.
- *Production costs of up to 20,000 yen will be paid for each selected work.
■Judging Criteria
- Design
- Theme/Concept
- Techniques
- Structure/Expressiveness
- Functionality
- *The number of judges may be increased.
- *Only successful entrants will be notified by e-mail of their selection after a strict judging process.
- *We cannot respond to any inquiries regarding the judging results.
■Eligibility
Entrants who can submit their actual work to the KAI project team in Japan in the case that it wins the Excellence Award. There are no restrictions on nationality or place of residence (in Japan or overseas).
- *Entrants can also apply as a team. If a team of entrants is selected for an Excellence Award or the Grand Prize, the prize will be presented to one representative of the team.
- *Minors must obtain the consent of a parent or guardian in advance.
- *However, entrants from the organizer, its affiliated corporations, and their respective officers, employees, contractors and agents are not eligible.
■How to Enter
Please apply using the entry form.
- *We can only accept the specified entry form.
- *Make sure the attached image is in colour.
- *Entrants are responsible for all internet communication charges and other expenses incurred when entering.
- Check the terms of entry regarding the copyright of the submitted work.
- Photos and videos of submitted design proposals, actual works, related events and training may be published in printed materials, on the internet, social media and/or TV programs. Moreover, members of the press may film and conduct interviews throughout the contest.
- The actual submitted work will not be returned.
- Personal information will be strictly managed and will not be used for any purpose other than the operation of this contest. Additionally, we will not provide entrants' personal information to third parties without their consent, except when providing it to a subcontractor to the extent necessary for outsourcing the relevant administrative work.
- Unless unavoidable, do not change the registered e-mail address until 30th September. If you need to change the email address, contact the contest secretariat. The award may be invalidated if the winner cannot be contacted due to the contact e-mail address being unreachable or other such reasons, or if a reply to the email notifying the entrant about the award is not received by the specified deadline.
- This contest may be changed or cancelled without notice due to unavoidable circumstances.
- Other terms and conditions apply to this contest. Make sure to check the terms of entry when applying.
Terms and Conditions for the "KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition"
By applying to the "KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition" (hereinafter referred to as the "Competition"), applicants are required to agree to the following terms and conditions (hereinafter referred to as the "Terms").
1. Agreement to the Terms
- Please read these Terms carefully before applying to the Competition. By submitting an entry, you are deemed to have agreed to these Terms.
- The organizer of the Competition is Kai Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Organizer").
Application Period
- Applications must be submitted no later than 23:59 (JST) on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (hereinafter referred to as the "Application Period"). Only applications submitted during the Application Period will be valid. All deadlines are based on Japan Standard Time.
Eligibility
- Applications are limited to individuals who, if their work is selected as an Award of Excellence, can submit the actual produced work to the Kai Corporation project team in Japan (hereinafter referred to as the "Eligible Applicant"). Nationality and place of residence (domestic or overseas) do not matter. If a minor applies, prior consent of a parent or legal guardian must be obtained. Employees, officers, contractors, or agents of the Organizer, its affiliates, and related entities (collectively, the "Competition Parties") are not eligible to apply.
How to Apply
- Applications must be submitted via the designated application form.
Notes on Application
- Multiple entries are permitted.
- Applications submitted by methods other than the designated application form will not be accepted.
- File formats must be jpg, png, or PDF, and file size must not exceed 100MB.
- Images must be submitted in color.
- Required information must be entered in Japanese or English.
- Submitted content and applicant names may be used by Kai Corporation in its own media or advertising. Content may be edited or modified in a manner that does not damage the original image.
- For entries submitted from overseas, applicants are responsible for customs duties on shipping the works, and must prepay these fees. Regardless of domestic or international shipping, applicants will receive a 3,000 yen shipping allowance.
License to Use Entries and Waiver of Moral Rights
- If the applicant holds copyright over the submitted content, the applicant grants the Organizer a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use the entry in any media for any purpose, including but not limited to use on the Organizer's websites, social networking services (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, etc., hereinafter "SNS"), campaigns, advertisements, or marketing activities conducted by the Organizer or other affiliated companies bearing the Kai name. Copyright remains with the original author.
- Applicants agree not to assert any moral rights (including rights of integrity, attribution, or protection against false attribution, hereinafter referred to as "Moral Rights"), now or in the future, in relation to the Organizer's use of the entries.
- Once submitted, entries cannot be withdrawn or modified.
- Entries that infringe upon third-party rights (such as copyrights or portrait rights) are not permitted. If third-party works or likenesses are included, prior approval from the relevant rightsholders must be obtained. Applicants are solely responsible for resolving any disputes at their own cost and liability, and the Organizer assumes no involvement or responsibility.
- The Organizer reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify entries deemed inappropriate or in violation of these Terms or applicable laws.
- The Organizer may request identification to verify the applicant's name, age, or address, and reserves the right to disqualify any applicant found to have submitted false or invalid information.
- The Organizer is not responsible for lost, delayed, or misdirected entries.
Selection of Winners
- From among the valid entries, Award of Excellence winners will first be selected
through a document review by judges and the Kai project team.
Winners of the Award of Excellence will receive Kai sewing scissors and will be asked to produce the actual hat. From these, one Grand Prize winner and one Category Special Prize winner will be selected by the judges and Kai project team.
Submitted works will not be returned.
Prizes
- The prizes are as follows:
- Selected Entries: Certificate, up to 20,000 yen production cost support
- Award of Excellence: Kai "7280 Tailor Shears 280mm," up to 20,000 yen production cost support
- Grand Prize: Fashion design training, one Kai "Ō Sewing Scissors," media interview
- Special Jury Prize: 50,000 yen cash prize
Details of the fashion design training, including location and program, will be determined considering global conditions at the time of implementation.
Receipt of Prizes
- Winners must comply with all usage conditions of the prize in order to receive it.
- The Organizer may verify that the winner claiming the prize is the applicant. If verification cannot be completed for any reason, the prize may be forfeited.
- Prizes must be used under the prescribed conditions. No compensation will be provided if the prize cannot be used under those conditions. Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash or substituted.
Announcement of Winners
- Applicants who pass the first screening will be notified by email by Friday, September 4, 2026. Please follow the instructions provided regarding prize receipt.
- The Organizer cannot respond to inquiries regarding selection results.
Re-selection
- If a winner fails to meet the Terms, declines, or does not claim a prize, the Organizer reserves the right to invalidate the award and re-select another winner.
Limitation of Liability
- The Organizer shall not be liable for delays or failures caused by events or circumstances beyond its reasonable control, and reserves the right to suspend, modify, or terminate the Competition as necessary under applicable law.
- The Competition Parties shall bear no liability for any loss, damage, expense, fee, or injury (collectively, "Damages") arising from the Competition or use of prizes, unless otherwise provided by law. This includes direct, indirect, and consequential Damages, even if foreseeable.
- The Organizer may collect personal information of applicants for the purposes of administering the Competition and providing prizes. By applying, applicants consent to the use of their personal information for these purposes. Handling of personal data may be outsourced to third parties within the scope necessary. All personal information will be managed in accordance with the Organizer's Privacy Policy: https://kai-group.pro/privacypolicy/.
- These Terms and their interpretation shall be governed by the laws of Japan.
- Any disputes arising out of or in connection with the Competition shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court in the first instance.
Contact
"KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition" PR Office
Email: kaihat@vectorinc.co.jp
Please allow up to 3 business days for a response (excluding weekends and holidays).
Inquiries unrelated to the Competition cannot be answered.
This year, entries will be judged in two separate categories: Hat and Head-piece.
The most
outstanding work across both categories will be awarded the Grand Prize.
In each category, the
following awards will be presented in descending order:
Category Special Prize, Award of Excellence, and Selected Entries.
Award Benefits
KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition
Grand Prize
One Grand Prize will be selected. The winner will receive an extra prize worth a total of 1,500,000 yen, which includes participation in a fashion and design training course and a pair of top-of-the-range sewing scissors called Ō developed in collaboration with Mr. Hizume. In addition, the winner will be interviewed by the media.
Fashion and Design Training Course
(Examples from Previous Programs)
MR. HIZUME’S ATELIER
ATELIER-MUSEE DU CHAPEAU
SANDRINE BOURG
Mademoiselle Chapeaux
The Ō sewing scissors brand
Interviewed by the media
KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition
Special Jury Prize
In addition to the prize received by Excellence Award winners,
the winner of the
Special Jury Prize will receive a supplementary prize of 50,000 yen.
KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition
Excellence Award
Winners will receive a certificate and a pair of KAI sewing scissors.
KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition
Selected
Those selected will receive a certificate.
About KAI Sewing Scissors
What are sewing scissors?
Also known as cutting scissors, these scissors are suitable for cutting thick fabric and cloth.
They are used not only by general households, but also by professionals who handle cloth and
fabric.
About the Ō sewing scissors brand
These are sewing scissors jointly developed with Nobuki Hizume, the world's leading hat and
head-piece designer, with the aim of achieving the world's best cutting performance.
KAI,
which has been making scissors used in the apparel industry
and craft studios for more than 40 years, has achieved a sharpness that meets Mr. Hizume's high
standards after more than eight years of development.
The product is a set of six pairs of
sewing scissors in a case made of chestnut wood from
Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
KAI 7000 SERIES Product Features
- Made with molybdenum vanadium stainless steel that has excellent sharpness and durability.
- Fine, smooth sharpness achieved by a proprietary blade attachment.
- Has a special screw that does not easily come loose.
- Has a handle shape that does not cause fatigue even when used for a long time.
- Made with a soft elastomer resin that is gentle on hands and does not slip easily.
The scissors were selected for the 2005 IF Design Award (Germany) for their excellent practicality and design.
About the sponsor: The Japan Hat Association
The Japan Hat Association was established in 1969 in preparation for
participation in the 1970 World Exposition in Osaka,
Japan by integrating hat-related
organizations from all over the country.
After that, it started working as a national
organization in cooperation with the relevant authorities. Most recently, the Association held
the Hat Weeks 2023 Photo Contest on social media to promote the culture of enjoying hats.
Inquiries about the contest
KAI Hat & Head-piece Competition secretariat
- *It may take up to three business days for us to reply (we cannot reply on weekends and public holidays).
- *We cannot respond to inquiries not related to promotions.
