34th National Japan Bowl - Observer Registration Logo

  • 34th National Japan Bowl - Observer Registration

    Thank you for your interest in joining us at the 34th National Japan Bowl. This is the registration form for competition observers. Observers do not earn scores during the competition but may watch the preliminary and championship rounds. Student Observers may even participate in other activities with Japan Bowl competitors.

  • Student Observers must be accompanied by a chaperone aged 21 years or older.

  • Media and Sponsor Contact

    Each year, that National Japan Bowl attracts the attention of a number of local and international media outlets looking to cover the competition. Some of our sponsors have also expressed interest in directly communicating with our participants. Please indicate whether you would be interested in contact with any media outlets or sponsors that might come to the Japan Bowl.

  • Adult Observer Information

    All observers 18 or older who are not current high school students are considered Adult Observers.

  • Japan Bowl Teachers' Networking Event

    The National Japan Bowl hosts an annual Teachers' Networking Event for teachers, chaperones, and adult observers to gather and exchange ideas about Japanese language learning and the National Japan Bowl. This event takes place at the same time as the Cultural Workshops for students. More details about this year's Teachers' Networking Event will be shared closer to the date of the event.

  • Student Observer Information

    Please completely answer the following information to the best of your ability. The Student Observer application is open to any student interested in attending the competition regardless of whether or not they are affiliated with a competing team. All observers who are under 18 years of age or current high school or middle school students (grade 8-12) are considered "Student Observers." All Student Observers must be accompanied by a chaperone aged 21 or older.
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  • Emergency Contact

    Please enter the name and contact information of someone over 18 that we can contact in case of any emergency.

  • Observing the Competition

  • Registered observers are invited to observe the preliminary rounds. During the in-person Japan Bowl competition, preliminary rounds for all levels will take place at the same time so please choose the levels you would like to observe for each round. You will only be permitted to observe the level you signed up for - please let us know if you would like to change your selections before Friday, March 27, 2026.

  • Food and Lodging

  • The 34th National Japan Bowl will be held at the Johns Hopkins SAIS campus in downtown Washington DC. Your registration fee is inclusive of any food served at the event. However, it is not inclusive of hotel stays. This year, we have reserved a room block at the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol - National Mall.

    Rooms booked through the hotel block will be available for $219 per room. 
    *Please refer to the hotel information on the Japan Bowl website for more details and booking procedures.

    Students should not make this reservation on your own without your teacher or parent/guardian.

  • Student Observer Registration - Next Steps

  • Thank you for your interest in joining us as an observer at the 34th National Japan Bowl!

    Your registration is almost complete.

    On the next pages, you will find 4 different forms. Some of these documents can be signed within this form, while others will need to be downloaded, signed, and uploaded to this form for submission.

    The National Japan Bowl Code of Conduct and Honesty Pledge can be signed within this form.

    The National Japan Bowl Student Pariticipation Agreement and Parent/Guardian Consent Form must be downloaded, signed, and uploaded to this form for submission.

    Please review each of these documents carefully before signing and submitting.

    If you have any questions regarding the contents of the documents or have any issues, please let us know at japanbowl@jaswdc.org.

  • Adult Observer Registration - Next Steps

  • Thank you for your interest in joining us as an observer at the 34th National Japan Bowl!

    Your registration is almost complete.

    On the next pages, you will find a few required supplemental documents. Please review each of these carefully before signing.

    Then you will be taken to a page to submit the registration payment and complete your registration.

    Adult observers will be responsible for paying their own registration fees, regardless of whether they are associated with a competing school or not.

    You may pay Japan Bowl fees via credit card or check. To pay by check, or if you have any questions, please email us at japanbowl@jaswdc.org.

    Japan Bowl Fee Schedule

    Observer Fee  $75.00

  • Code of Conduct

  • To provide a safe, secure environment and a fair competition for all its guests, the Japan-America Society of Washington DC (JASWDC) requires all National Japan Bowl (NJB) participants to adhere to the National Japan Bowl Code of Conduct. Adult chaperones and group leaders are responsible for enforcing this Code.

    Dress Code

    • Business attire* for both days of the competition
    • Students must wear their NJB t-shirt** on the second day of the competition
      *No jeans, shorts, athletic wear, flip-flops, caps, etc. (religious head coverings are permitted)
      **NJB t-shirts are provided to each registered participant and distributed at event check in on the first day of the competition.

    Japan Bowl Lanyards

    • All participants (students, teachers, observers) will be required to wear their Japan Bowl throughout the NJB and for entry into all competition rounds and NJB-sponsored events. Those without lanyards may be denied entry. Lanyards are provided at event check in on the first day of the competition.

    Technology Use

    • All technology use is strictly prohibited during NJB competition rounds, including but not limited to calculators, cell phones, laptops, tablets, and electronic watches. Students requiring electronic devices to compete must obtain prior written consent from the NJB.
    • No photographing, recording, or otherwise documenting competitions and answer reviews.

    Cheating and Academic Dishonesty

    • Competition participants may not use any material that may give them an unfair advantage over other participants during the competition, including textbooks, study guides, notes, etc.
    • No copying, screen-shotting, photographing, recording, reproducing, distributing, or sharing competition questions or answers in any form at any time.

    Curfew

    • Teachers and chaperones may set curfews for their own students on their own authority.

    Alcohol and Controlled Substances

    • Possession or use of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances is strictly prohibited at the NJB and is grounds for dismissal from the competition. In addition, public intoxication of minors is illegal in the District of Columbia (DC) and is punishable by law.

    Assault, Harassment, and Discrimination

    • Any NJB participant found to have assaulted or harassed a competitor, chaperone, observer, conference center guest, JASWDC or hotel staff member will be dismissed from the competition and will be reported in accordance with District of Columbia Laws and venue or hotel policy.

    Covid-19 Guidelines

    • All NJB participants must comply with the District of Columbia's and venue's health policies. Participants are responsible for checking the venue's COVID-19 policy (https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/) before arriving at the competition. Failure to adhere to health guidelines while at the competition may result in dismissal from the competition.

    Any participant and their team(s) may be disqualified for violating any policies outlined in the NJB Code of Conduct or any policies set forth by the hotel and the competition venue. JASWDC has the sole right to determine whether any action requires disqualification.

    By affixing your signature below, you recognize that a violation of any of the rules as laid out in the National Japan Bowl Competition Guide, the Honesty Pledge, or in this Code of Conduct, may result in you and/or your team’s disqualification and forfeiture of any awards or recognition to be made at the discretion of The Japan-America Society of Washington DC.

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  • For a PDF version of this agreement for your records (unsigned), click here.

  • Honesty Pledge

  • The Japan-America Society of Washington DC (hereafter JASWDC) is committed to ensuring that the National Japan Bowl (hereafter NJB) is a fair competition where students can showcase their hard work and knowledge of Japan and the Japanese language. This year, as every year, students, observers, instructors, and all other participants are required to abide by the rules and regulations set out by JASWDC in order to protect the quality and integrity of the competition.

    All participants are required to sign and adhere to the word and spirit of this honesty pledge in order to participate.

    By affixing your signature to this document, you affirm that you will:

    • Adhere to all rules and guidelines as laid out in the National Japan Bowl Competition Guide document made available to all participants.
    • Only confer with the registered members of your three-person team within your school and competition level, and avoid all inappropriate collaboration with other students, instructors, observers, or other individuals for the duration of the testing period.
    • Refrain from the use of any aids including but not limited to textbooks, study guides, handwritten notes, online resources, cell phones (except during the Championship Round when explicitly allowed to by the NJB judges), or any other form of assistance.
    • Follow the directions of NJB judges and proctors as pertains to the competition and direct any questions or concerns to NJB judges, proctors, or JASWDC staff as appropriate.
    • Not use any device, program, or app to copy, screenshot, record, film, or distribute any part of the NJB competition rounds at any time.
    • Trust that your fellow competitors are adhering to the same code of ethics and honesty.
    • Report to NJB and JASWDC staff immediately any violation of these rules of which you become aware.

    By affixing your signature below, you recognize that a violation of any of the rules as laid out in the National Japan Bowl Competition Guide, the Code of Conduct, or this honesty pledge, may result in you and/or your team’s disqualification and forfeiture of any awards or recognition to be made at the discretion of The Japan-America Society of Washington DC.

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  • For a PDF version of this agreement for your records (unsigned), click here.

  • Adult Observer - Supplemental Form

  • Chaperone Agreement

    Chaperone confirms that they are over 21 years of age, have read the Competition Guide for the National Japan Bowl, the Code of Conduct, and the Honesty Pledge, and agree to ensure the student’s compliance with the rules and regulations set forth in these documents from the time the student registers for the Competition until the conclusion of the Competition.

    To the full extent permitted by law, Chaperone hereby releases and agrees to save harmless, The Japan-America Society of Washington, Inc., its members, officers, trustees, employees, volunteers and agents from all liability for any delay, cancellation, change in schedule for the National Japan Bowl, and any loss, property damage, personal injury, disability, or death, including any liability which may arise from the negligence of The Japan-America Society of Washington, Inc., its members, officers, trustees, employees, volunteers and agents which may be suffered or claimed by the Chaperone on their own behalf or on behalf of the student(s) in their care, during, in connection with, or as a result of, the student’s participation in the Japan Bowl and related activities.

    Chaperone understands that they may be photographed, and/or audio or videotaped while participating in the Japan Bowl and agrees that all such materials may be used in any Japan Bowl related promotional materials, literature, articles, or otherwise without additional permission or release.

    Chaperone understands that failure by the student to abide by any rule or regulation set forth in the Competition Guide, Code of Conduct, or Honesty Pledge may result in interruption or termination of the student’s participation in the National Japan Bowl.

    This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the District of Columbia without regard to choice of law provisions, and any dispute shall be resolved in the courts thereof.

  • Clear
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  • For a PDF version of this agreement for your records (unsigned), click here.

  • Student Observer - Supplemental Forms

    The two forms below will require the signature of a parent, guardian, and/or your chaperone(s). Please read the instructions for each form carefully and upload them all before submitting. Documents can be e-signed, or printed, signed in black ink, and scanned or photographed for submission.
    • Student Participation Agreement 

    • You can download the Student Participation Agreement document from our website here.

      The following people need to sign this form:

      1. you,
      2. your parent or guardian, AND
      3. your teacher/lead chaperone.

      Please ensure we can clearly read the information, and upload your signed form as a PDF or image (.jpeg, .jpg, .png) file.

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    • Parent/Guardian Consent Form 

    • You can download the Parent/Guardian Consent Form from our website here.

      Please make sure to obtain a consent form for each chaperone attending the competition with your school. (For example, if only one chaperone is attending from your school, you only need to submit one copy of the form. If 3 chaperones are attending, your parents will need to sign a form for each chaperone, 3 forms total.)

      Please ensure we can clearly read the information, and upload your signed form(s) as a PDF or image (.jpeg, .jpg, .png) file.

      You may submit a maximum of 4 files in this space.

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  • Fees

    If you have any questions or are unsure how to complete the Fee section, please send an email to us at japanbowl@jaswdc.org.

  • Japan Bowl Fee Schedule

    Observer Fee 75.00


    The cost for Adult and Student observers is $75.00 and is inclusive of meals and activities, but does not cover the charge for rooms at the hotel during the competition.

    Student observers who will be joining with a competing school should coordinate their fee payment with the Teacher/Lead Chaperone of that school.

    Student observers who will be joining on their own (not with a competing school) will be responsible for paying their own fee.

    Adult observers will be responsible for paying their own fee, regardless of whether or not they are joining with a competing school.

    Japan Bowl fees may be paid by credit card or check. To pay by check, please contact us at at japanbowl@jaswdc.org.

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      34NJB - Observer RegistrationThe Observer fee covers one Adult or Student observer for participation in the 34th National Japan Bowl.
      $75.00
        
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    • If you need a payment receipt, please email us at japanbowl@jaswdc.org.

    • Almost there!

    • Click "Submit" below to submit your registration form, or "Save" to save your progress and return at a later date.

      Please remember that all forms and payments must be submitted by January 30, 2026.

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