Hanoi Foreign Trade University and East Japan International University hold business idea contest
Foreign Trade University Holds KAWAI CUP
On July 8, 2023, the annual Business Idea Contest/KAWAI BUSINESS STARTUP (commonly known as the KAWAI CUP) was held on the Foreign Trade University's campus in Hanoi, Vietnam.
First held in 2006, the KAWAI CUP is now in its 18th year. To date, nearly 22,000 students have participated in the competition, with many becoming entrepreneurs after graduation who are now active in Vietnamese society and the country's economy.
This year's contest was watched by 77,000 people on YouTube. The first prize (around \8.5 million), second prize (around \3.5 million) and third prize (around \3 million) were all awarded to outstanding student entrepreneurs.
The KAWAI CUP is currently supported by nearly 40 sponsor companies whose monetary contributions help fund the prizes and the costs of holding the event. JOUJU Co., Ltd., and its predecessor General Engineering Co., Ltd., have contributed a total of \20 million to the event over the past 18 years.
For this year's event, JOUJU Executive Manager Yukihiko Okuma joined by video and presented a message from Mitsumasa Kawai, JOUJU's Representative Director.
Higashi Nippon International University Holds 7th Unique Idea Contest
Saturday, October 21, 2023, saw the holding of Higashi Nippon International University's annual Renzan Festival on the school's campus. The Unique Idea Contest, which began in 2016 and welcomed its seventh year in 2023, was also held as part of the festival that day. Seven finalist groups presented unique business ideas that made use of the regional characteristics, historical heritage, cultural assets, vegetables, lumber, insects, hot springs, festivals and other aspects of Iwaki, the university's home city.
JOUJU Co., Ltd. has sponsored the Unique Idea Contest for all of its seven instances.
JOUJU's Executive Manager Yukihiko Okuma attended on behalf of the company and took part in the judging process. He also presented a message from Mitsumasa Kawai, JOUJU's Representative Director. Following the contest, Executive Manager Okuma attended an informal gathering with Chairman Hiroshi Midorikawa, President Sakuji Yoshimura, Dean Satoshi Nakayama and other members of the university's administration.
