The Japan National Brain Bee is an annual neuroscience knowledge competition organized by the Union of Brain Science Associations in Japan with partner societies. The 2026 qualifier used a 60-minute, roughly 60-question English-language CBT at test centers across Japan.
The highest-scoring students advanced to an in-person national final, where one winner was selected to represent Japan at the online International Brain Bee World Championship in November 2026. The 2026 preliminary round has ended, and the organizer invites eligible students below the final year of high school to try the next cycle.
Benefits & funding
- Applicants paid a ¥1,100 participation fee, including tax.
- High-ranking participants could be invited to neuroscience conferences, laboratory visits, and study sessions.
- Travel costs to the national final venue were covered for finalists.
- The national winner was nominated as Japan’s representative for the November 2026 online World Championship.
Eligibility
- Applicants had to be 13–18 years old and attend a middle school, high school, or equivalent school in Japan.
- The 2026 cycle also accepted final-year high school students.
- Questions were in English, while Japanese comprehension was needed for venue communication and instructions.
- No nationality requirement was stated; the hard gate was school attendance and residence in Japan.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Residence required
Japan
Education required
High School
Age requirement
13–18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Create a My Page account and consent to the personal-data terms.
- 2Log in, choose the CBT application, enter the required details, and select an available test center and date.
- 3Pay the ¥1,100 fee by convenience-store payment or Pay-easy; the reservation is complete only after payment.
- 4Bring the required student identification to the test center and sit the 60-minute CBT.
Program timeline
Applications opened at 10:00 Japan time.
19 March 2026
Preliminary CBT window.
25 April–10 May 2026
Final application deadline at 23:59 Japan time.
7 May 2026
Top qualifier scorers advanced to the in-person national final.
Late May–June 2026
The national winner was due to represent Japan at the online World Championship.
November 2026