PRESS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WASHINGTON, DC – The Japan-America Society of Washington DC (JASWDC) is thrilled to announce that the 34th National Japan Bowl® competition will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, 2026, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in downtown Washington, DC. JASWDC is honored to partner with the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies to host this year’s event.  

For over three decades, the National Japan Bowl has recognized and celebrated high school students across the United States who have chosen to study Japanese as their foreign language. As America’s premier Japanese-language competition, the Japan Bowl® inspires students and reinforces the efforts of their teachers and schools. Many alumni of the competition credit it as a key motivator in their professional journeys, including careers in diplomacy, business, cultural exchange, and education.  

This year, JASWDC looks forward to welcoming a grand total of 19 schools, 38 teams, and over 165 students and teachers from across the country for the two-day competition, culminating in the Championship Rounds and Awards Ceremony on April 18.  

EVENT SUMMARY 

The Japan Bowl is a fun and challenging competition where students showcase their knowledge of Japanese language and culture. Competitors are divided into three levels based on their current level of language study, with teams of two to three students representing their schools. Over two days, participants tackle 80 challenging questions, engage in speaking activities, and participate in the championship rounds to determine the national champions.  

Between rounds, students can attend cultural workshops, network with representatives from Japanese cultural organizations and universities, and explore opportunities for study abroad programs and further Japanese language study.  

The top winners could receive an invitation to travel to Japan for a week of immersive cultural experiences, including meetings with host families, local students, and dignitaries such as Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, the National Japan Bowl’s honorary patron.  

Learn more about Japan Bowl at japanbowl.org and @japanbowl on Instagram.  

EVENT SCHEDULE (OPEN TO PRESS) 

Championship Round: April 18 from 13:30 to 16:30 (EST)  

  • Level 2 – 13:30 to 14:30 
  • Level 3 – 14:30 to 15:30 
  • Level 4 – 15:30 to 16:30 

Closing Ceremony: April 18 from 17:00 to 18:00 (EST)  

Due to the nature of the competition, there is no video or audio recording allowed during the Championship Rounds.  

LOCATION 

Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) 

555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

Washington, DC 20001  

METRO 

The SAIS building is a short walk from five different metro stations, accessed best by the Red, Yellow, Orange, and Green lines: 

  • Archives Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Station (Green and Yellow Lines) — 4-minute walk
  • Gallery Place-Chinatown Station (Green, Yellow and Red Lines) — 12-minute walk
  • Federal Triangle Station (Blue,Orangeand Silver Lines) — 13-minute walk 
  • L’Enfant Plaza Station (Orange, Blue, Silver, Green and Yellow Lines) — 13-minute walk
  • Judiciary Square Station (Red Line) — 8-minute walk

PARKING 

No parking available on-site. Paid street parking is available and several parking garages are located within walking distance of the building.  

PRESS CONTACTS 

For more information about the 34th National Japan Bowl, please email japanbowl@jaswdc.org. For media inquiries, please contact William Denton, Communications Manager, at wdenton@jaswdc.org.  

ABOUT THE JAPAN-AMERICA SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON DC 

The Japan-America Society of Washington DC is a 501(c)(3) educational and cultural non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship between Japan and the United States at the grassroots level. Our programming aims to foster bring Japanese and American people closer together in the National Capital Region.