33rd National Japan Bowl

Join us at the 33rd National Japan Bowl!

Dates: April 4-5, 2025

Venue: Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies
Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001

Registration

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Registration for the National Japan Bowl starts on November 20th and will remain open until January 31st. Registration will be completed online and all of the relevant information and links can be found on the Registration page.

All registration documents and payments must be submitted by Friday, January 31, 2025 to be considered complete.

Virtual Information and Networking Sessions

Information sessions are geared towards new teachers and school staff who are interested in learning more about this year’s event! We cover topics like the competition format and registration process. We also encourage our returning teachers to attend, and hope that our new teachers will appreciate any wisdom about the competition that may be shared.

Our first information session was held on Monday, December 16th at 7:30pm EST.

Our second information session will be held on Wednesday, January 15th at 7:30pm EST. RSVP here by January 13th.

We are also hosting a Teacher Networking Opportunity on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM EST. This event is designed for teachers to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas. Whether you’re a long-time participant in the National Japan Bowl or new to the event, this is a chance to ask questions, expand your network, and gain valuable insights. RSVP here by January 6th.

Competition Guide

The 2025 National Japan Bowl Competition Guide is available for download!

This Guide is designed to help students and teachers form teams and prepare for the competition. It includes:

  • Competitor Eligibility Rules
  • General information about format, content, and rules of the National Japan Bowl competition
  • Registration Guidelines
  • Study Tips and Sample Questions to help you prepare

For information on the topics to study, please download the Japan Bowl Team Study Guide.

Study Guide

The 2025 National Japan Bowl Team Study Guide is available for download! To access the guide, complete a quick survey to tell us who you are and where you’re coming from. Upon completing the survey, the study guide will be emailed to you. Don’t forget to download the Gestures Guide as well – no survey required!

The National Japan Bowl Team Study Guide is compiled each year by the National Japan Bowl Council in coordination with the Japan-America Society of Washington DC.


The National Japan Bowl is America’s premier Japanese-language competition, now in its 33rd year. Each spring the Japan-America Society of Washington DC welcomes 200 of the country’s top high school Japanese language students to the nation’s capital for the competition.

For more information about participating in the 33rd National Japan Bowl, contact the Japan Bowl Team at [email protected].