Announcing the results of the "#ThinkingAboutChildSafety" submission contest held by Kokumin Kyosai coop and note!

The "#ThinkingAboutChildSafety" submission contest, which began on May 13, 2025, invited people to talk about child safety. During the period (5/13-6/1), we received 2,943 entries! Thank you for submitting such wonderful works that reflect a warm gaze toward children.#ThinkingAboutChildSafety」投稿コンテスト。期間中（5/13-6/1）には、2,943件もの作品をご応募いただきました！子どもへのあたたかな眼差しが感じられるすばらしい作品を投稿いただき、ありがとうございます。

Please see here for a list of entries on note.

As a result of the selection process, the winners have been decided as follows.

Grand Prix (1 entry)

The Magic of the "See You Later" from the Green Lady

The work by Therapeia_Kokolun, which writes about her mother, a traffic instructor with 20 years of experience known as the "Green Lady," was unanimously chosen for the Grand Prix. Standing on the school route in the morning, her mother was concerned not only with regional traffic safety but also with the state of each child's heart. The words, "A smiling 'See you later' is best, isn't it? Just that makes the children's backs feel a little lighter," show the importance and power of watching over them.

The judges also highly evaluated the work for its broad empathy and originality, commenting: "I was moved by the part about 'Children have their own mornings.' The importance of the words 'See you later' and the sense of security it creates are wonderful. It made me want to try saying it myself," and "I thought the combination of the perspective from your own childhood and the perspective learned from your mother created a unique quality."

Kokumin Kyosai coop Award (1 entry)

When parents aren't looking, who is protecting the children?

This is a work that writes about the realization that there are beings protecting children when parents aren't looking. Worried about her daughter walking home alone, Ankoromochi, who goes out for a "pick-up walk" several times a month, met some lively grandmothers. "We gather here like this every day to have a chat, matching the times the elementary school students go to and from school." The heartwarming feeling after reading is its charm.

The judges also evaluated it, saying: "It depicts the necessity of eyes watching over in the community, and the feeling after reading is refreshing," "The part about the chat is very good because it makes me think that I can just do what I can without trying too hard," and "It seems like it would resonate with parents of junior high and high school students, not just elementary school students."

Traffic Safety PJT Award (1 entry)

What adults can do to protect children's safety

Minako, who had an experience of almost being hit by a car when she was a child. When she became a mother and became a "flag duty" person in her community, she realized that she had become the "adult eyes" she wanted to be watched by when she was a child. The school route is more dangerous than imagined, and "even with a flag, it's not enough." It is a work that shows the determination and wish to watch over children as an entire community.

The judges also evaluated it, saying: "From the sentence 'I can't really say it's okay just because there's a flag,' I can see that you are thinking beyond traffic safety," "The actual experience of no one protecting or watching you gives the reader persuasiveness," and "The final 'And I hope I can hear them say I'm home safely' gives the reader a chance to think."

Looking back on the contest

Below is a comment from Kokumin Kyosai coop.

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Although the submission period has ended, we hope this will serve as an opportunity to think about child safety once again.

Please take a look at other submitted works from the link below.