Since 2021, JETAANC has created a nengajo (New Year's cards) for members to write new year's greetings to San Francisco Bay Area Japanese-American senior center residents, and to send to their own family and friends.
This year, we are inviting high school students in our northern California and Nevada region to share their creativity and artistic skills by designing JETAANC's 2025 Nengajo!
Submission Deadline: November 15, 2024
Eligibility Requirements
Current high school student (9th-12th grade)
Resident of northern California (up to and including Monterey, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo counties) or the state of Nevada
Design Guidelines
The design should be a festive holiday card inspired by new year's celebrations in Japan and the US. Your design could be traditional, illustrative, photographic, abstract, humourous - all styles are welcome!
Read through the guidelines below and check out designs from past years.
Theme / Element Suggestions
New Year / Lunar New Year
Juunishi Japanese Zodiac calendar (tip: 2025 is the Year of the Snake)
Japan / Japanese New Year (お正月 oshogatsu) imagery (e.g., kagami mochi, kadomatsu bamboo and pine decorations, daruma, plum blossoms, oranges, etc)
Popular northern California and/or Nevada locations, food, activities, events, etc
Message
Your design must either include or allow space for a New Year's greeting.
If included in the design, the greeting should be in English (Japanese is optional) and should be inclusive towards all faiths and belief systems.
Your design may also include "Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program Alumni Association of Northern California & Nevada", but it is not required.
File Format
Dimensions: standard-size 4x6 inch postcard
Safe Print Area: 3.84x5.84 inches (keep critical elements and text away from edges)
Orientation: landscape or portrait - both are ok
Resolution: 1847 x 1247 pixels at 300dpi
Format: JPG, PNG, PDF
Media
Designs may be created by hand with physical media (e.g., drawing, painting, collage, etc) or by using digital tools or applications (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, etc).
Designs may include photography with permission and attribution (if the person submitting the design did not take the photo). If the photo includes any people, please be sure you have permission to use their image and likeness in your design.
Use of AI design tools is allowed, but must be disclosed in the submission form.
Brands & Copyright
If you would like to use the JETAANC logo, please contact ec@jetaanc.org to request files.
Please do not use logos, brands, or other copyrighted content in your design (e.g., Golden State Warriors logo).
Prizes
Selected designs will be printed for JETAANC's 2025 nengajo and artists will receive a Japanese stationery gift!
Past Designs
Need some inspiration? Check designs from previous years:
2024 Year of the Dragon - Melissa Golden (Canva)
2023 Year of the Rabbit - Alcide Guillory III (woodblock-style carved rubber stamp)
2022 Year of the Tiger - Amelia Knight @marsknightart (illustration)
2021 Year of the Ox - Melissa Golden (Canva)
2012 Year of the Dragon - Khalid Birdsong @khalidbirdsong (illustration)
