The 44th Spanish Guitar Music Competition

Application Guidelines

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (National Holiday)(Second Preliminary Round, Final Round, and Free Competition)

Venue: J:COM Urayasu Music Hall/Concert Hall, 1-6-1 Irifune, Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture, 279-0012

(1 minute walk from the south exit of Shin-Urayasu Station on the JR Keiyo Line or Musashino Line)

◎ First Round
Audio Screening Deadline: May 31, 2026 (postmark date valid)
Set Piece: Waltz Andantino (A. Cano)
Edition Required From “Coleccion de las obras maestras de La Guitarra Espanola” (published by Gendai Guitar Publishing), Volume 1, No. 7, edited by the Japan-Spanish Guitar Association　

Requirements for application: 1. Application form (web form or email) 2. Entry fee 3. Audio recording (those who have previously been finalists in this competition are exempt from audio recording review)

[How to Apply]

Application Form: Please fill out the required information via the online form (scheduled to be published on the association’s website in 2026) or by email.
*Required information for application via email (Please copy and paste the following when applying by email.)
〇 Name (in alphabetic notation)
〇 Applicable category from the following list [Male/Female, Elementary School Student/Junior High School Student/High School Student/University Student/Working Adult (44 and under)/Working Adult (45 and over)]
〇 Title of free piece and movements, composer’s name, and performance time (If applying for multiple categories, please fill out this information separately for both the Free Division and the Final Round.) (Please include initials for the composer’s name. For example, F. Sor or F. Tarrega.)
〇 Application categories: <1> First, second, and final rounds: 16,000 yen<2> First Round/Free Division: 16,000 yen<3> Applying for both: 26,000 yen
〇 Address (Please provide detailed information, including postal code, prefecture, and apartment room number. Please contact us if you are moving or if your address does not have a nameplate.)
〇 Phone number
〇 Email address
〇 Brief guitar background (Previous finalists of this competition are exempted from the recording review. Please indicate so if it applies)
〇 Method of remittance of application fee (date of remittance, name of remitting financial institution, etc.)
〇 Please tell us how you found out about the competition.
(Examples: “I saw it on the association’s website,” “I saw the application guidelines flyer (please also indicate where you obtained),” “I saw an advertisement,” “I saw it on social media,” “I was introduced by a teacher or studio,” “I was introduced by an acquaintance,” “Other”)
Participation Fee (full payment):
<1st Round, 2nd Round, Final Round> 16,000 yen
<1st Round, Free Division> 16,000 yen
<2nd Round, Final Round, and Free Division Combined Application> 26,000 yen
Bank Transfer Details: Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Tsurukawa Branch (233), Current Account 0751272, Japan-Spanish Guitar Association, Harumi Nakajima.
SWIFT code /BIC code: BOTKJPJT or BOTKJPJTXXX（when 11 digits）

*bank transfer fee to be paid by the applicant.
*From this year onwards, the participation fee will be paid in a lump sum, including the fees for subsequent sections, when applying for the 1st Round.
*Once paid, the participation fee will not be refunded, regardless of the reason.

Audio: Audio file (email attachment or file transfer in MP3 format recommended) or CD-R (by post).
*Audio files will not be accepted if it is extremely quiet, distorted, or unplayable.
*Please send audio files in a format that can be played on a Windows or Mac.
*Audio files larger than 2MB may not be received by the association’s email address. We recommend using a file transfer service and providing a download link.

〇 Email application: info@spainguitar.jp (If you would like to apply by post, please contact us in advance using the email address above or via the “Contact Us” section of the association’s website.)

* Those who pass the first round will be eligible to compete in the free division and second round (the division or multiple divisions for which they applied). In the Free Division, participants will perform only their free pieces. In the Second Round, participants will perform only the assigned pieces, and the top six (planned) will advance to the finals.

*The deadline for all of above is May 31, 2026.

* Previous finalists of this competition are exempted from the audio screening and do not need to complete step 3<Audio file>. However, the entry fee and deadline are the same for all participants.

* Participants agree to the taking and publication of photographs, videos, etc. for the Japan-Spain Guitar Association’s public relations activities.

* After you apply or remit payment, the secretariat will send you an application completion email within one week.　If you do not receive a completion email, please contact the contact details listed below. Phone: 090-8096-4071 (Secretariat) Email: info@spainguitar.jp

◎ Second Round: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (National Holiday), 10:30 AM (Scheduled)
Required Piece: Etude Op. 6-11 (F. Sor)
Edition: Volume 2, No. 30, from “Coleccion de las obras maestras de La Guitarra Espanola” (published by Gendai Guitar Publishing, edited by the Japan-Spanish Guitar Association)

◎ Free Division: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (National Holiday), 2:00 PM (scheduled)
(This category was newly established last year. After passing the first round, only free pieces will be performed.)
Free Piece: Works by Spanish composers, solo pieces of up to six minutes (multiple pieces allowed, including tuning time). If the contestant exceeds the time limit, the lowest ranking will be awarded.

◎ Final Round: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (National Holiday), 3:40 PM (Scheduled)
・Required Piece: Seville, Op. 47-3 (I. Albéniz) Edition: From “Coleccion de las obras maestras de La Guitarra Espanola” (published by Gendai Guitar Publishing), Vol. 3, No. 41
・Free choice piece : Solo piece(s) by a Spanish composer, 10 to 15 minutes (multiple pieces allowed, including tuning time). If the contestant exceeds or does not reach the required time, the lowest ranking will be awarded.

◎Judges
[First and Second Rounds, Division] Comprises directors of the Japan-Spain Guitar Society.
[Final Round] Guest Judge: Wakana Hamada (Spanish culture researcher, part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts).
Harumi Nakajima (President and guitarist), Mitsunobu Shima (Vice President), Kozo Tate, Yasuaki Hiura, Masashi Shinohara, Keiichiro Ishihara, and Takashi Watanabe (directors and guitarists of the association)

◎Awards (Last Year’s Achievements)
・Certificate
[1st-6th Place] Awarded by the Japan-Spain Guitar Association / Diploma (Certificate) from the Spanish Ambassador to Japan

[Maduro Award/Madura Award] Awarded by the Japan-Spain Guitar Association (selected from men and women aged 45 or older among participants in the second round, excluding the winners)

[Japan-Spain Friendship Award] Awarded by the Japan-Spain Guitar Association

[Audience Award] Awarded by the Japan-Spain Guitar Association (selected by vote of attending audiences of the final round)

[Free Category] Certificate (Gold, Silver, Bronze)

・Prizes and Awards
1st Place: 360,000 yen (150,000 yen Association Award: Support for training program in Spain; 50,000 yen JGA Award; 50,000 yen Kono Guitar Award; 50,000 yen Savares Award; 30,000 yen Arai Trading Award; 30,000 yen Chronix Award)
Spanish Ambassador’s Cup / Gendai Guitar Award (Gendai Guitar publication worth 30,000 yen) / Lladró Japan Award (Valencian crafts) / Savares Award Special Award (12 sets of four types of strings, Savares tote bag) / Andante Award (Concert guest appearance) / Instituto Cervantes Tokyo Award (A.V.E. Online 3-month self-study Spanish language course)

2nd Place: 80,000 yen (50,000 yen Japan-Spain Guitar Association Award / 30,000 yen Savarez Award)
Japan Junior Guitar Education Association Cup / Kurosawa Musical Instrument Store Leona Case Award (“Luthier Series Carbon Case” open price, retail price 220,000 yen including tax (200,000 yen excluding tax)) / Savarez Award Special Prize (nine sets of three types of strings, a Savarez tote bag)

3rd Place:40,000 yen (Japan-Spain Guitar Society Award 30,000 yen/ Savarez Award 10,000 yen) / Roccoman Award (Super Light Guitar Case) / Savarez Award Special Prize (6 sets of 2 types of strings, Savarez tote bag)

4th-6th Place: Guitarla Award (Music Stand)

1st-6th Place: Performance and PV Video Production (Provided by Special Supporting Member Taizo Yamada) / Aura Award (1st-3rd Place: Special Prize, 4th-6th Place: Nail File Set) / Media Calm Award (Labela Strings) / Forest Hill Award (Sheet Music: Forest Hill Edition) / Sylphid Award (Sheet Music Set) / Noboru Muraji Award (“Enjoy Guitar Masterpieces with an Orchestra Series CDs 1-5”)

[Highest Award for a Japanese] Japan-Spain Friendship Award / Tokyo Plectrum Award (Master Class Attendance)

[Free Category – Gold/Silver/Bronze Awards] Savarez Award Special Prize (Savarez String Set, Tote Bag)

[Participation Prize (for all participants in the second round)] S.I.E. Award (Altamira Finish Protector) / Fernand Award (String Winder) / AUGUSTINE Award (Augustine RED String Set, provided by Arai Trading) / Savarez Award Participation Prize (Backpack, Pen, Pencil, Savarez Sticker, Leaflet)

・Winner Privileges: Eligibility to participate in the New Year’s Concert (Final Contestants, Maduro Prize, Madura Prize, and Free Category Winners)
Concert hosted by the Spanish Embassy (Winner and first-second place winners of the Japan-Spain Friendship Award)
Recommendation for performance at other concerts (1st place)
Eligibility for professional membership in the Japan-Spain Guitar Society (1st-6th place winners: Registration fee and first-year annual fee exempted)

・Winner Requirements: Requirement to perform at the New Year’s Concert hosted by our association, scheduled for 2027.

*Prizes may be subject to change for international winners.

Corporate Supporting Member: ID Holdings Co., Ltd.
Sponsors: Embassy of Spain in Japan / Tourism Section of the Embassy of Spain / Instituto Cervantes Tokyo, and others (tentative)
Organizer: Japan-Spain Guitar Association

Inquiries: info@spainguitar.jp Website: https://spain.guitar.gr.jp/