CONCEPT
About the Debussy International Piano Competition
The Debussy International Piano Competition is held to deepen the long-standing artistic exchange and mutual respect between Japan and France.
Debussy’s compositions reflect elements of Japonism, and the doors he opened to modern music have greatly influenced later Japanese composers.
More than 100 years after his passing, we hope to further strengthen this artistic bridge. This competition, held in Japan, focuses on Debussy,French music, and works by Japanese composers.
ABOUT
Competition Guidelines
Preliminary Round
Format:
Audio/Video Submission
Submit a recording of your piano performance by uploading it to YouTube.
• Videos from previous performances are acceptable.
• There are no specific requirements regarding recording methods or environment.
• If performing multiple pieces, you may submit a continuous recording or separate recordings for each piece.
• The quality of the recording may affect the evaluation. If the sound is distorted, unclear, or too quiet, it will be assessed within the limits of audibility.
Application Deadline:Monday, March 31, 2025
• Upload videos to YouTube and submit the URL.
• Audio files must be uploaded via an online file-sharing service. (Email attachments are not accepted.)
• Send the audio URL via email todebussy.ipc@gmail.comoor through
the official website's inquiry form.
Final Round
(In-person or Online)
The final round offers both an in-person and an online category, with separate awards for each. Participants may apply for both. In-person Finals
Date:
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 (Public Holiday)
Venue:Kanakku Hall
1-10-1 Higashi-Kanagawa, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa
045-440-1211
Venue:Seya Civic Cultural Center - Ajisai Plaza
4-4-10 Seya, Seya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa
045-301-3500
Online Finals
Video Submission Deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025
Upload recordings to YouTube and submit the URL.
• Videos from previous performances are acceptable.
• Videos must clearly show the performer’s face and hands to confirm authenticity.
• If performing multiple pieces, recordings can be continuous or separate.
• Recording quality affects evaluation (distortion, low volume, or unclear audio may impact assessment).
Categories
Anyone can participate regardless
of nationality or address.
There is a section by age. Please select the age as of April 1, 2025
- Category A
- Amateur, 18 years and older (no upper age limit)
- Category B
- 7 years and younger (no minimum age requirement)
- Category C
- 8–9 years old
- Category D
- 10–11 years old
- Category E
- 12–14 years old
- Category F
- 15–17 years old
- Category G
- 18 years and older (no upper age limit)
Preliminary Round
Free choice of piece(s)
• No restrictions on composers
• Must be a published work (self-composed pieces are not allowed)
• A combination of short pieces is allowed
• The same piece(s) may be performed in both the preliminary and final rounds
Final Round
Free choice of piece(s)
• No restrictions on composers
• Must be a published work (self-composed pieces are not allowed)
• If the performance includes any of the designated works below, the participant will be eligible for the respective awards:
Debussy Prize
• Awarded if a work by Debussy is included in the program
Japanese Composition Prize
• Awarded if a work by a Japanese composer is included in the program
French Music Prize
• Awarded if a work by any of the following French composers is included in the program
Eligible Composers:
Alkan, Castérède, Couperin, Satie, Saint-Saëns, Chabrier, Chopin, Jolivet, Séverac, Daquin, Dutilleux, Debussy, Pierné, Boulez, Poulenc, Fauré, Massenet, Murail, Milhaud, Messiaen, Ravel, Rameau, Lully, Lecouper, Lemoine, or any Japanese composer (published works only)
- Category A:
- 6–10 minutes
- Category B:
- 2–5 minutes
- Category C:
- 3–6 minutes
- Category D:
- 4–7 minutes
- Category E:
- 5–8 minutes
- Category F:
- 6–10 minutes
- Category G:
- 6–10 minutes
- • The final round performance may be shortened for time constraints, but this will not affect judging.
- • Information regarding any time cuts will be posted at the venue on the day of the final round.
- • Omitting repeats or making cuts for time adjustments is allowed.
- • For preliminary round video/audio submissions, exceeding the time limit will not impact judging, but evaluation will be based on the segment within the time limit.
Jury
- Takao Ikeda
- Harumi Hanabusa
- Kazuoki Fujii
Awards
- Top Prizes
- Certificates will be awarded to the 1st to 6th place winners in each category for both live and online competitions.
- Grand Prix
- Awarded to the participant with the most outstanding performance across all categories.
- Debussy Grand Prize
- Awarded to the participant with the most outstanding performance of Debussy’s works across all categories.
- Debussy Prize
- Awarded to participants in each category who deliver an excellent performance of Debussy’s works.
- French Music Prize
- Awarded to participants who deliver an excellent performance of works by designated French composers.
- Japanese Composition Prize
- Awarded to participants who deliver an excellent performance of works by Japanese composers.
- Diploma
- Awarded to all finalists.
- Debussy International Educational Friendship Award
- Awarded to teachers who have guided multiple students to the final round through live preliminary rounds in their respective countries. (Award criteria are based on the standards of each country.)
To recognize continuous dedication to teaching, recipients of consecutive awards will receive the following ranks:
• 2 consecutive years → Bronze
• 3 consecutive years → Silver
• 5 consecutive years → Gold
Participation Fees
- Preliminary Selection
- Category A ／ 21,000 yen Category B ／ 18,000 yen Category C ／ 18,000 yen Category D ／ 21,000 yen Category E ／ 21,000 yen Category F ／ 21,000 yen Category G ／ 21,000 yen
- Final stage
- Category A ／ 26,000 yen Category B ／ 18,000 yen Category C ／ 21,000 yen Category D ／ 23,000 yen Category E ／ 26,000 yen Category F ／ 26,000 yen Category G ／ 26,000 yen
- • Japanese consumption tax will be added to the above amounts.
- • Participation fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.
Register via the Official Website
Before clicking the entry button, please carefully review the important notes included in the notification email regarding the screening results.
If you do not receive the email, please contact us at debussy-ipc@gmail.com
• Participation fees vary by category. Please ensure you select the correct amount.
• When making the payment, please use the same email address that you entered in the application form.
- Footrests & Auxiliary Pedals
- Participants or their accompanying persons are responsible for setting up footrests and auxiliary pedals.
The competition does not provide footrests or auxiliary pedals. - Announcement of Judging Start Time
- The schedule will be announced via email or on the official website.
- Schedule Changes & Updates
- The latest updates and schedule changes will also be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
If you are unable to check updates on our official website frequently, please like and follow the Debussy International Piano Competition Facebook page using the button below. - Response to Natural Disasters (Typhoons, Earthquakes, Heavy Snowfall, Torrential Rain, etc.)
- The competition will proceed as scheduled as long as the venue remains available, even in cases of typhoons, earthquakes, heavy snowfall, or torrential rain.
If the venue becomes unavailable due to unavoidable circumstances, the live performance evaluation will be changed to video screening at a later date.
Please note that we cannot compensate for travel expenses, cancellation fees, or refund participation fees in such cases.
Jury
Takuo Ikeda
池田卓夫
Kazuoki Fujii
藤井一興
Harumi Hanafusa
花房 晴美
Prizewinner
Japanese works award
Awarded to those who performed the best Japanese works from all categories.
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debussy Prize
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debussy Grand Prize（Grand Prix）
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Grand Prix
From among all contestants, we give it to a contestant who performs the best.
- GRAND-PRIX :
Grand Prix
From among all contestants, we give it to a contestant who performs the best.
- G section No.53 :
- Ayana Ishigaki
Grand Prix
From among all contestants, we give it to a contestant who performs the best.
- D section No.21 :
- YUTO IIZUKA
- F section No.36 :
- RYOKO OSAWA
- 1 place No.1 :
- Tsukuda yuki
- 2 place No.6 :
- YOSHIHIRO ADACHI
- 3 place No.4 :
- Rieko abe
- 4 place No.9 :
- INOUE Takuya
- 5 place No.2 :
- NAKAJIMA SATOSHI
- 6 place No.3 :
- FUJII SEIKO
- 1 place No.7 :
- Haruo Hosoya
- 2 place No.9 :
- INOUE Takuya
- 3 place No.8 :
- Hideya Suzuki
- 1 place No.10 :
- Minagawa Koko
- 1 place No.10 :
- MIZUTANI EITA
- 2 place No.12 :
- KIHO SUMIRE
- 3 place No.11 :
- TAKEI WAKO
- 1 place No.14 :
- Hakuto Otaki
- 2 place No.12 :
- HANEISHI KOHANA
- 2 place No.13 :
- Himeka Nojiri
- 3 place No.15 :
- MIORI SAGARA
- 4 place :
- not applicable
- 1 place No.18 :
- Mio Tokue
- 2 place No.15 :
- shiga rento
- 3 place No.16 :
- Sakurai Sawa
- 1 place No.18 :
- Inoue Kohiro
- 2 place No.17 :
- Kanon Aburatani
- 3 place No.16 :
- Sato Subaru
- 1 place No.21 :
- YUTO IIZUKA
- 2 place No.20 :
- shiga rinon
- 3 place No.22 :
- Haruhiko Sato
- 1 place No.19 :
- SHIGA RINON
- 1 place No.20 :
- Mahoko Endo
- 2 place No.21 :
- TAKAI MIU
- 1 place No.29 :
- Keiichi Ishibashi
- 2 place No.27 :
- IIZUKA YUTO
- 3 place No.33 :
- Rein Ususaka
- 1 place No.25 :
- Harada Rei
- 2 place No.26 :
- Ran Sakai
- 3 place No.22 :
- ONISHI Toko
- 4 place No.24 :
- SASAKI Rino
- 5 place No.23 :
- Rika Hirabara
- 1 place No.33 :
- RYOKO OSAWA
- 2 place No.32 :
- Yamaguchi Hiiro
- 3 place No.31 :
- AYANE SAKAMAKI
- 1 place No.53 :
- Ayana Ishigaki
- 2 place No.52 :
- Ouyang Weina
- 3 place No.33 :
- Fukutomi Airi
- 3 place No.43 :
- Odano Naoko
- 3 place No.56 :
- MAMI TAKEUCHI
- 4 place No.50 :
- NAKAI MIZUHA
- 5 place No.48 :
- YAMAMOTO ICHIGO
- 6 place No.44 :
- Ishikawa Miho
- 6 place No.49 :
- TOMOKO KAMEJIMA
- 1 place No.58 :
- Arisa Fujisawa
- 2 place No.54 :
- Watanabe Yu
- 3 place No.57 :
- YASUI HIDEKI
debussy Grand Prize（Grand Prix）
Awarded to the person who performed the best Debussy in all categories.
- G section No.53 :
- Ayana Ishigaki
debussy Grand Prize（Grand Prix）
Awarded to the person who performed the best Debussy in all categories.
- D section No.21 :
- YUTO IIZUKA
- F section No.36 :
- RYOKO OSAWA
debussy Prize
Awarded to those who performed Debussy well from each department.
- A selection No.1 :
- Tsukuda yuki
- B selection No.10 :
- Minagawa Koko
- C selection No.13 :
- Himeka Nojiri
- D selection :
- Not applicable
- E selection No.19 :
- SHIGA RINON
- E selection No.20 :
- Mahoko Endo
- F selection No.25 :
- Harada Rei
Japanese works award
Awarded to those who performed the best Japanese works from all categories.
- C selection No.18 :
- Mio Tokue
Japanese works award
Awarded to those who performed the best Japanese works from all categories.
- G selection No.41 :
- Yoshie UNO
Application Form
Please apply using the ENTRY button below.
After filling out the application form, please proceed with the participation fee payment via PayPal.
Your entry will be completed upon payment.
• Participation fees vary by category. Please ensure you select the correct amount.
• When making the payment, please use the same email address as the one entered in the application form.
Contact Information
Competition Office
Association Debussy au Japon
1-5-5-902 Kita-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0014, Japan
Tel:050-5534-9555
※Phone inquiries from participants are not accepted.
Please contact us via email.
(Business hours: Weekdays 12:00–16:00)
Email:debussy.ipc@gmail.com
Confirmation Email
A confirmation email will be sent.
※Please note that emails may not be delivered correctly.
Ensure that your email settings allow emails from the domain (gmail.com).