Interview with Tanushi Yuichiro at Nishina Hall
I spoke with Tanushi Yuichiro, Director and Secretary-General of the Nishina Foundation for Science Promotion (Nishina Hall), which hosts the competition, about the robot contest.
What are the distinctive features of the theme for 2026?
Tanushi
The rules for the robot contest are decided every year through discussions among the judges appointed by the foundation. When deciding this year's theme, we talked about needing two sets of plates for the table setting and how it would be interesting to have a setting where ingredients are cooked in a frying pan.
This year, the types and number of items remain the same as in previous years. However, the way to determine the goals has changed. Until last year, each item's goal was generally set to one, but this year there are three goals for the sponge blocks.
Bonus points are awarded only when the specified number is transported to each goal, so if the numbers are not properly divided after transportation, high scores cannot be achieved.
Last year (2025), more schools achieved perfect scores than we anticipated, so this year we made it a bit more challenging.
What kind of robots can we expect?
Tanushi
Middle school students create interesting robots. They are fearless and sometimes come up with unexpected designs. Their creativity is abundant.
By the time they reach high school, they understand how to build robots that can transport items. The robots that score points tend to become predictable, so high school students tend to create robots that are reliably built based on that understanding.
Are there any robots that have left a lasting impression on you?
Tanushi
Every year is interesting. For example, I thought it was amazing to see a robot with a small monitor that displays what operations it is currently performing. While it may not directly help in transporting items, the fact that the monitor was functioning well made it fascinating.
Another example is a robot equipped with a large crane, which claimed it could transport items of any size.
However, the crane was so long that it made the robot unstable and it ended up being unable to transport most items. Still, the idea was interesting, and it was chosen for the Challenge Award because it would have been impressive if it had worked.
How do students approach robot creation?
Tanushi
The theme is announced on April 1, and from there, the students begin building their robots, practicing during the summer vacation, and dedicating time to their projects.
For example, in recent years, Satosho Junior High School has been winning. They enter multiple robots each year, and each one has a different personality.
I feel that the teachers are not instructing them on how to build, but rather, when students come up with ideas like "I want to do this," the teachers provide advice on how to make it work. This allows the students to freely express their ideas and put in their best effort.
What do you hope for through this contest?
Tanushi
I hope it serves as a catalyst for creating things. I want students to develop an interest in learning in the science and engineering fields through this experience.
This year marks the 34th robot contest. It has continued thanks to the efforts of many, including school teachers. I want to think about how we can continue it in its current form for a long time to come.
Memorable Robot Contest
I thought that today would become a good memory that would last a long time for the participating students.
In an era where AI does many things for us, using our hands and minds to create robots with friends, improving through trial and error, and putting everything on the line in the three-minute competition. Responding to accidents. Both the successes and failures will likely become a day they will remember, thinking, "We did something like this."
It seems that the robot contest will be held again next year. The level is said to be rising year by year. What kind of robots will appear next?
Data for the 34th Robot Contest 2026
| Name | 34th Robot Contest 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date | August 30, 2026 (Sunday) From 9:00 AM |
| Location | 6610 Satomi, Satosho Town, Asakuchi District, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free |
| Homepage | Robot Contest |
