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[Event] "Japan Drone Programming Challenge Toyama" Report (2025/12/21)

2025年12月31日 20:35

Hello everyone. This is Asaoka, the Representative Director.
There is not much left of 2025. How are you doing?
Today, I would like to report on the drone programming competition "Japan Drone Programming Challenge Toyama" held in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture, on Sunday, December 21, 2025!

What is the "Japan Drone Programming Challenge"?

The "Japan Drone Programming Challenge" is an educational and competitive event for elementary school students (mainly 3rd to 6th graders) in Japan, where they "program drones to fly/compete in missions." Aiming to foster local digital talent, it has been held since 2022 in the three Hokuriku prefectures of Toyama, Fukui (since 2023), and Ishikawa. It has become a high-level programming contest, even producing past winners who have gone on to compete as representatives of Japan at the WRO (World Robot Olympiad), a global robotics competition.

Last year's Uozu Drone Programming Challenge 2024 winner, Yu Hirota (right). He also competed in the WRO 2024 Turkey tournament as a Japanese representative. He participated in an exhibition at the Kanazawa Drone Programming Challenge 2025. On the left is Professor Kanami of Kanazawa Institute of Technology, who serves as the tournament executive committee chair.

The course is based on the local Uozu City amusement park, "Mirage Land"

A feature of these local "Japan Drone Programming Challenge" tournaments is that they are themed around tourist spots or events in the host location.
Since it was held in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture, participants flew drones using controllers they programmed themselves on a course themed after the Uozu City amusement park, "Mirage Land."

A hula hoop mission modeled after the "Mira-Maze" attraction at Mirage Land. In addition to the hoop, you have to pass through a hula hoop placed on a stand from either above or below.

The Toyama tournament saw a record-high 11 participants from 10 teams! An intense competition!

The Toyama tournament had a record-high 11 participants from 10 teams. Strong competitors joined not only from the host city of Uozu, but also from Takaoka City, Asahi Town, Namerikawa City, and more. Among them were super elementary school programmers who had previously competed in the WRO national tournament. True to the tournament's name, strong competitors gathered from within Toyama Prefecture, leading to a heated race.

A mission to land on a high platform modeled after the Ferris wheel, which is a symbol of Mirage Land. It barely caught on, and the mission was cleared. This was OK. There was even applause from the venue!

The younger sister of the winner, Takagi, cheering while holding her favorite penguin plushie. The Toyama tournament has a friendly, homey atmosphere every year.

A snapshot during the tournament. Participating as a team of good friends!

The MC was Ai Matsumoto, a model from Uozu City! The play-by-play commentary was provided by Gomez Kawada, a local Toyama comedian, continuing from last year!

Following last year's "Uozu Drone Programming Challenge," the play-by-play commentary was again provided by local Toyama comedian Gomez Kawada. And for the first time this year, Ai Matsumoto, a model from Uozu City, served as the MC. They really livened up the venue and the tournament again this year.

Play-by-play commentator Gomez Kawada (left) and MC/model Ai Matsumoto from Uozu City (right)

The winner is a 4th-grade elementary student attending a programming club in Uozu City, competing for the first time!

The winner was Ryosuke Takagi, a 4th-grade student from the team "Penguin," who attends a programming club in his hometown of Uozu City and was competing for the first time. Although he had registered for last year's tournament, he was unable to participate due to a fever and felt very frustrated. However, he took care of his health, practiced at his local Uozu programming club, learned programming, and demonstrated those results, achieving the highest score of 77,539 points. He brilliantly secured his ticket to the national tournament to be held in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Winner Ryosuke Takagi from the team "Penguin" in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture. He couldn't help but pump his fist after achieving the highest score!

The runner-up is a strong competitor from Takaoka City!

The runner-up was Marin Takada, a 6th-grade student from the team "MT (Mint", {)" from Takaoka City. She is a super programmer who attends a programming school in Takaoka City and participates in the WRO and other programming competitions in Toyama Prefecture. Following advice from last year's Uozu Drone Programming Challenge 2024 winner, Yu Hirota, she practiced repeatedly before entering. She had a close battle, finishing with 76,655 points, just a narrow margin behind the winner, Takagi.

Runner-up, Marin Takada from team "MT (Mint)." She practiced hard and traveled from Takaoka City to participate. She expressed her enthusiasm, saying she wants to win the national tournament.

Third place was truly a close call! It was a narrow margin of only 556 points.

Third place went to Ryutaro Takasaki from team "Giratina," who won the Fighting Spirit Award at last year's "Uozu Drone Programming Challenge 2024." It was truly a close call. Their programming abilities were almost neck and neck. However, he is steadily improving his skills. Since he is a fifth-grade elementary student, I hope he aims for the championship next year.

Takasaki-san is steadily improving his skills. It was truly a close call... He is definitely growing, so I hope he wins the championship next year!

A special award for the hard-working contestant! Presented by MC Ai Matsumoto!

At this tournament, a special award was presented by MC Ai Matsumoto to a contestant who unfortunately did not place but was very close. It was Shiho Ninogami from team "Shi," who was participating for the first time and came from Takaoka City. She was very close to placing, and she must have put in a considerable amount of effort.

Shiho Ninogami from team "Shi." I hope she continues to pursue programming in the future.

The supplementary prizes included "MiraPay" from Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture, and "IKUE" tableware, which fuses tradition and innovation.

The supplementary prize was the local currency "MiraPay." The special award included luxurious prizes such as 20 packs of Uozu rice.

The prizes were also luxurious. The local currency of Uozu City, "MiraPay," was presented as a supplementary prize.

Finally, an ending video documenting the growth!

We conclude with an ending video produced by Aoi Koarashi and Riko Ushida from the Hokuriku University Monozukuri Lab. Although it is a record of only two days, including the experience workshop held beforehand, you can see the state of the tournament and the growth of the participating contestants. Please take a look at this as well!

Tournament Overview

"1st Japan Drone Programming Challenge Toyama"
・Date: December 21, 2025 (Sun)
・Venue: Niikawa Bunka Hall, 2F Exhibition Hall
・Organizer: Uozu City Board of Education / Japan Drone Programming Challenge Toyama Executive Committee (Kanazawa Institute of Technology Kawanami Laboratory / FAP General Incorporated Association / Hokuriku University Monozukuri Lab)
・Cooperation: Information Processing Society of Japan Hokuriku Chapter / Answer Co., Ltd. / Advance Co., Ltd.
・Sponsorship: INTEC Inc. / Kanazawa Engineering Systems Inc. / Toyama Prefecture Cable Television Association / HIP Co., Ltd. / YourBrains Co., Ltd.
・Support: Toyama Prefecture
・Tournament MC: Ai Matsumoto
・Play-by-play: Gomez★Kawada
・Commentary: Takashi Kawanami (Professor, Faculty of Information and Human Sciences, Kanazawa Institute of Technology)
・Tournament General Ambassador: Yukari Matsui (Captain, Hokuriku Idol Club) Tournament Official Website:https://fap-club.org/drone/toyamadroneprg/