Thinking about SDGs with university students: Action support project
J:COM, which works together with the local community to provide services, is working to "create a sustainable local community. J:COM Channel has been reporting on and reporting on the activities of university students working on the SDGs through a special feature in a local information program called "Thinking about SDGs Week with University Students." We are implementing an "Action Support Project" in the hopes that more people will learn about these efforts, and that we can support the younger generation who are taking on the challenge of diversifying local issues and develop them together.
Applications are being accepted until August 17, 2025.
Apply here from
Project overview

Selection process

judge
The preliminary and first selection will be conducted by J:COM employees and Yurasato Labo. The final selection and poster session will be conducted by the following experts, guest judges and J:COM employees.
Guest Judge
Sakura Inoue

Guest Judge
Sakura Inoue
Born on October 2, 1999 in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture. In 2015, she made her debut after winning a special prize at the 40th Horipro Talent Scout Caravan. She is active mainly in variety shows, such as hosting ABC's "Shinkonsan Irasshai!" and NHK Educational TV's "Science ZERO."
Experts (marketing and business perspective)
Hiroshi Tanaka, Professor Emeritus at Chuo University, Lecturer at the University of Tokyo

Experts (marketing and business perspective)
Hiroshi Tanaka, Professor Emeritus at Chuo University, Lecturer at the University of Tokyo
After 21 years of practical experience at Dentsu Inc., he served as a professor at the Hosei University School of Business, a visiting researcher at Columbia University, and a professor at Chuo Business School. He has served as chairman of the Japan Marketing Association and the Japan Association for Consumer Behavior Research.
Experts (from the perspective of ideas and concepts)
Professor Tatsuro Sato of Tama Art University

Experts (from the perspective of ideas and concepts)
Professor Tatsuro Sato of Tama Art University
In 1981, he joined Asahi Tsushinsha Co., Ltd. (later ADK). After working as a copywriter, he was in charge of personnel affairs, organization, training, vision formulation, etc. for the creative department of over 200 people. He currently serves as a professor at Tama Art University and the representative of the Communication Lab.
Experts (regional issues perspective)
Yurusa and Labo

Experts (regional issues perspective)
Yurusa and Labo
Currently working at Odakyu Agency, he is involved in a project to research related population and how it connects communities. While presenting at academic conferences and contributing papers, he also provides solutions to local governments and community organizations in practice.
Application method
Step 1: Review your orientation materials
We will explain the project overview, the selection process, and provide some examples that will give you some ideas.
Step 2: Fill in the application form
Please fill in the required information in the form and submit it (by 23:59 on August 17, 2025).
Application Requirements
Regarding application
Recruitment period
Friday, July 11, 2025 to Sunday, August 17, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Details of the project
J:COM will provide support (worth 1 million yen in total) to the team that is selected as the best action after the pre-selection (document submission), first selection (online presentation), and final selection (poster session).
Qualification requirements
- Students who are interested in the SDGs and want to take on the challenge of solving local issues, including university students, graduate students, junior college students, vocational students, and 4th and 5th year students at technical colleges
*Age does not matter as long as the applicant is currently enrolled in school at the time of application. - Application unit: Group (seminar, club, volunteer) or individual
- Residence: Japan
- Candidates must be able to participate in the first selection process (online presentation).
Date and time: Wednesday, September 17th or Thursday, September 18th, 2025
*Basically, you will participate during the designated time (about 20 minutes including the presentation) during the above dates, but if necessary, you can also submit a video. - Participate in the final selection process (poster session) in person
Date and time: Sunday, October 19, 2025
Location: Planned to be near Tokyo Station
*Participants' transportation expenses will be covered (up to a maximum of 3 people per group)
*Participation will be on-site as a general rule, but online participation is also possible in unavoidable circumstances. - Be able to implement actions utilizing the support in consultation with J:COM by the end of March 2026
- Being able to cooperate with the interview
Recruitment theme and requirements for application
Actions to solve local issues that you want to start and spread further
<Requirements for application>
✔ Actions aimed at "solving local issues"
- ・This can be either "an action you would like to start" or "an action to expand on an activity you are already carrying out."
If your action is selected as the best, you will be required to take on the challenge of making it a reality. - ・Actions can only be taken within Japan.
✔ There is a reason why you want J:COM to support you
- - Please take into consideration J:COM 's business, sustainability, and community initiatives and tell us why you would like J:COM to support the action you would like to undertake.
✔ You have a specific idea of the support you would like to receive
- ・The team selected for the best action will receive support worth 1 million yen from J:COM.
- ・Please tell us specifically what kind of support you would like to receive and how you would like to use the 1 million yen.
*The actual support content and cost allocation will be decided through discussion with us after support has been approved, and the most effective method will be determined, so it is fine to make an estimate at the time of application.
Application method
After reviewing the orientation materials, fill out the application form.
Evaluation points
- Have unique perspectives and ideas on identifying and resolving local issues
- J:COM 's support is expected to increase the feasibility or develop the project.
- Relevant to J:COM 's materiality
*Materiality is Here
(Plus rating points)
There is continuity or a plan for continuity across actions and activities
What happens after you apply?
Notification of Pre-selection Results
Around August 26th (Tuesday)
- Teams that pass the pre-selection will be asked to participate in the first round of selection (online presentation).
- Please prepare presentation materials in a special format (up to 10 pages) and submit them digitally to the secretariat.
Deadline for submitting presentation materials (data submission): Monday, September 15th, 23:59
*Contact will be made to the email address you entered when applying.
First selection (online presentation)
Date: Wednesday, September 17th or Thursday, September 18th, 2025 Location: Online
Each team will be asked to give a presentation (within 10 minutes) about their action. There will also be a Q&A session with the secretariat (J:COM employees and Yurusato Labo).
Notification of first selection
Around Wednesday, October 1st
- Teams that pass the first round of selection (online presentation) will be asked to participate in the final round (poster session).
*For the final selection (poster session), the materials used in the first selection (online presentation) will be used as is, so no additional materials will be required.
Final Selection (Poster Session)
Date and time: Sunday, October 19, 2025 Location: Planned to be near Tokyo Station
After exchanging opinions with each other, the judges, and J:COM employees in a poster session,
After review, the best action will be decided.
<Implementation Details>
- ・Poster Session
- ・Participants exchange ideas/social gathering
- ・Announcement of results
If you are selected as the best action
The ideas of the teams that are selected as the best action in the final selection will be supported in their implementation.
① Activity support tailored to the content of the action
*The following is an example
- Planning support and advice
- Video content production and information dissemination cooperation (Website, YouTube, community channel)
- Matching with local partners such as governments and companies
- Providing sales opportunities (internal sales)
- Event participation and implementation support
- Support for activities
② Covering and reporting on activities
- Streaming and broadcasting on TV (community channels) and YouTube
Others/Precautions
- We are unable to answer inquiries regarding the screening and selection process.
- Details of the format for the presentation materials will be provided when you are notified of your successful application.
- The final selection (poster session) will be broadcast, distributed, announced, and promoted on various media outlets including TV, web, and SNS of J:COM Group. By applying for this project, you agree to this.
- We will cover the transportation costs (actual cost) to the venue for the final selection (poster session) up to the following limit.
Kanto region: 40,000 yen per team Outside Kanto: 150,000 yen per team
* Route and receipt must be confirmed. - The ideas selected as the best actions will be supported until March 2026 (planned), and activities will be covered and posted on community channels and YouTube.
- We will consult with each team that is selected as the best action to determine the specific support content, method, and timing. The support content may differ from the example shown.
Application Terms
Application Terms
If you are applying for the "SDGs Action Support Project for Thinking with University Students" (hereinafter "this Project") organized by JCOM Inc. (hereinafter "JCOM"), please read the following carefully and apply only after agreeing to the terms. By applying, you are deemed to have agreed to these terms.
1) Application conditions
- Students who are interested in the SDGs and want to take on the challenge of solving local issues, including university students, graduate students, junior college students, vocational students, and 4th and 5th year students at technical colleges
- *Age does not matter as long as the applicant is still a student at the time of entry.
- Application unit: Group (seminar/circle/volunteer) or individual
- Residence: Japan
- Candidates must be able to participate in the first selection process (online presentation) online.
Date and time: Wednesday, September 17th or Thursday, September 18th, 2025- *Basically, you will participate during the designated time (about 20 minutes including the presentation) during the above dates, but if necessary, you can also submit a video.
- Participate in the final selection process (poster session) in person
Date and time: Sunday, October 19, 2025 Location: Planned to be near Tokyo Station- *Participants' transportation expenses will be covered (up to a maximum of 3 people per team)
- *Participation will be on-site as a general rule, but online participation is also possible in unavoidable circumstances.
- The idea must be implemented together with JCOM by the end of March 2026.
- Being able to cooperate with the interview
2) Regarding the handling of intellectual property rights of submitted ideas (including copyright of submitted materials)
- Definition of Terms
- ① Application materials: The application form filled in at the time of application or when passing the preliminary selection process, materials submitted to the secretariat (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretariat"), and recorded video of the online presentation at the first selection process, etc.
- ② Submitted Idea The submitted idea (including the applicant's thoughts as stated on the application form)
- ③ Application ideas, etc. Application ideas and application materials
- ④ Intellectual property rights: A collective term for copyrights (including the rights provided for in Articles 27 and 28 of the Copyright Act), patent rights, utility model rights, design rights, and trademark rights.
- ⑤ Other terms are based on laws and regulations unless otherwise specified.
- The copyright of all submitted materials belongs to the applicant unless otherwise agreed.
- If JCOM provides implementation support or financial assistance to an application idea selected as the best action, the attribution of all rights, including intellectual property rights, to the application idea will be determined in consultation with the applicant.
- If rights to submitted ideas, etc. are transferred to JCOM, the transfer will be free of charge.
- If an applicant transfers the rights to his/her submitted idea etc. to JCOM, he/she shall not exercise any moral rights of the author with respect to the submitted idea etc.
- Regardless of the decision on ownership of rights, applicants will grant JCOM comprehensive permission to use their submitted ideas in any way related to this Project (both domestically and internationally), including but not limited to, implementing the submitted ideas, publicizing them, conducting public relations activities, producing programs, broadcasting, and distributing them.
- The implementation of the submitted idea will be decided through consultation between JCOM and the applicant. JCOM may modify part of the content as appropriate and use it, and the applicant agrees to this.
- If an applicant transmits the submitted idea (including any modified version) to the public via SNS or other means, or publishes or distributes it to a third party during the selection period of the idea, the applicant must consult with JCOM in advance and obtain their consent regarding the timing, method, etc. If the idea is selected as the best action, it will be valid until the end of the implementation period of the submitted idea.
- Applicants are prohibited from stealing other people's ideas and from using other people's intellectual property without permission beyond the limits permitted by law with regard to their submitted ideas, etc. If an applicant is sued by a third party for infringement of rights due to a violation of this rule, the applicant shall resolve the matter at his/her own responsibility and expense.
- The governing law of these Terms shall be Japanese law, and any disputes relating to these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court or the Tokyo Summary Court as the court of first instance.
- The content of this project may be changed or canceled without notice at the discretion of the secretariat.
3) Other points to note
- The application period may be changed at the discretion of the Secretariat.
- Personal information acquired by JCOM at the time of selection will be handled appropriately in accordance with the basic policy regarding the protection of personal information established by the Company. The purpose of use of personal information in this project and the status of consignment are as follows.
- Purpose of Use of Personal Information
In carrying out this project, JCOM will use the personal information it obtains for the following purposes:- i) Contacting applicants regarding this project
- ii) Other purposes incidental to the above purpose of use
- Consignment of personal information handling and provision to third parties
JCOM may entrust the handling of personal information to a contractor selected by JCOM within the scope necessary to carry out the above-mentioned purposes of use. In such cases, we will conclude a confidentiality agreement with the contractor and manage the personal information to ensure that it is handled appropriately.
In addition, personal information will not be provided to any third parties other than those mentioned above without the applicant's consent. - Person responsible for management of personal information, address, name of representative
Responsible person: JCOM Co., Ltd. Personal Information Protection Manager
Address: Marunouchi Trust Tower N, 1-8-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Name of Representative: Yoichi Iwaki
- Purpose of Use of Personal Information
- If you are under 18 years of age, you must obtain parental consent before applying.
- Applicants who pass the pre-selection and first selection (online presentation) will be contacted individually.
- We may contact you during the application period to confirm your application.
- Applicants are responsible for all costs related to the application, including the costs required to prepare the documents to be submitted.
4) Regarding inquiries
- Inquiries will be accepted via email.
- We will only accept inquiries about the application method or changes to the entry content.
- We cannot answer any inquiries regarding the progress of the examination, the contents of the examination, the criteria, etc.
- Please note that it may take some time for us to respond. Also, depending on the content of your inquiry, we may refrain from replying.
5) About the screening process
- Judges designated by the Secretariat will conduct examinations according to the standards set by the Secretariat.
- We will not accept any inquiries regarding the screening.
End
FAQ
A. Students from different schools can apply.
A.Of course you can apply. Please submit ideas for developing current initiatives or new action plans.
A. Generally, you will be asked to participate and attend in person at the specified date and time, but if this is difficult, we can discuss submitting a video for the first round of selection and participating in the final round online.
A. If the action you will present this time is different from the content of the support you have received so far, you can apply. In that case, please apply after getting the approval of the company or organization that has already supported you.
For any further inquiries regarding this project, please contact us by email at [email protected].
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