Japan Youth Summit 2026 [Osaka, 11-14 May] Global Call

The Japan Youth Summit 2026, organized by the Youth Break the Boundaries (YBB) Foundation, is a four-day international youth leadership and innovation program. It will take place in Osaka, Japan, from May 11 to 14, 2026. The summit focuses on innovation, technology, and sustainable development, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Climate Action (SDG 13). The program includes mentoring sessions, a social project competition, cultural immersion, awards, and professional documentation to support participants' future academic and career portfolios.

The summit offers both Fully Funded and Self-Funded options. The Fully Funded scheme provides access to the full program package, covers program fees, and offers a possible opportunity to serve as a panel discussion moderator. The Self-Funded scheme includes pre-orientation sessions, alumni sharing, mentoring on project development, group mentoring for social project design, a seminar kit (T-shirt, ID card, tote bag, notebook, pen, sticker pack), meals during program days (dinner on Day 1; breakfast, lunch, dinner on Day 2 and 3; breakfast on Day 4), local transportation for program activities, airport assistance on arrival (Kansai International Airport), limited airport transfer on departure, a Certificate of Participation, and documentation support (recap video, after-movie, interviews, press release). Neither option covers Japan Visa fees, international flight tickets, related travel costs, personal expenses, personal travel insurance, or optional extra tours.

Applicants from all countries, including Ethiopia, are eligible to apply. Candidates must be between 15 and 35 years old and can be from any academic background. A clean criminal record is required, and applicants must not be affiliated with any extremist, banned, or unlawful organizations. Participants under 18 years old must travel with a guardian for immigration and safety purposes.

For Fully Funded applicants: A completed registration form, an updated CV, an essay submission, a signed Agreement Letter, and completion of social sharing activities (e.g., Twibbon). For Self-Funded applicants: A completed registration form, an updated CV, and a signed Agreement Letter. A scanned photo or ID is required for all applicants. No IELTS is required.

1. Open japanyouthsummit.com on a laptop, preferably using incognito/private browsing for optimal performance. 2. Create an account using a personal email address (e.g., Gmail or Yahoo). 3. Log in and navigate to the Submission → Edit Submission page. 4. Complete all required form sections: personal details, professional profile, entry information, and miscellaneous (including essay upload and theme/SDG selection if applying for Fully Funded). 5. Carefully review all fields, save your progress, and preview your submission. 6. Proceed to the Payment tab and pay the registration fee to unlock the final Submit button. 7. Wait for payment verification by the administration team. Once the payment status shows 'Success', return to the Submission page and click 'Submit' to finalize your registration. 8. Download your Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from your dashboard when it becomes available in the scheduled LoA batch. 9. Fully Funded applicants must complete social sharing requirements as part of their application.

The Letter of Acceptance (LoA) confirms valid registration and successful payment verification but does not automatically guarantee a Fully Funded award. Fully Funded candidates will proceed to essay review and interview stages after LoA issuance. Self-Funded participants can use the LoA as supporting documentation for visa processing once required program fee payments are completed. YBB provides document support for visa applications (invitation letters, hotel booking confirmation, and guarantee letters where applicable) after required payments are completed, but cannot guarantee visa approval as embassies make final decisions. Applicants must apply for a Japan tourist visa unless their embassy specifies otherwise. If an applicant is not selected for Fully Funded status after reaching the interview stage, they may still participate as Self-Funded by completing program fee installments without re-registering or paying an extra registration fee.