The Talent Challenge provides a unique opportunity to get in touch with Japan’s leading universities and their students. AHK Japan member companies are welcome to participate, hand-in their "challenges" and present themselves at the exhibition area during the event. Read on and find out about the ways to get involved. A video of the past main event can be viewed at the bottom of this page.
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Talent Challenger registration open
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2026
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to be added
Universities
- Chiba University
- Keio University
- Meiji University
- Showa Women's University
- Waseda University
Timeline
Main Event on July 7, 2026
The event is composed of two areas of activities. Expected number of participants are 150 - 200.
Presentation Area
Student groups are giving presentations responding to real business problem settings - “Challenges” - given to them in April and May by interested AHK Japan member companies as Talent Challenger. This time, student teams of various age groups participate, ranging from high school students to graduate students. Their fields of studies are Marketing, Informatics, Sustainable Business, Japanese Management, German language and culture.
Exhibition Area
All attending member companies have the chance to present themselves at table-booths and network in a private atmosphere. With 100+ students attending the event, this talent challenge provides a unique opportunity to connect with students and universities in a more private atmosphere aside from common large-scale job fairs.
How to get engaged - Become the Talent Challenger!
- As Talent Challenger you and your company will come up with a real business problem setting your company is facing in the Japanese market, a so-called "challenge", and present it online to an assigned student group in the beginning of April or May.
- The student group will then be given four to six weeks time to work on a solution as an answer to your challenge (in consultation with your company and their professor) and present it on stage at the main event in July.
- This participation option is subject to students choosing your challenge. Deadline for applications for this role is March 31, 2026.
- Should your application be not chosen by a student group in April and May, you unfortunately cannot participate as Talent Challenger, but you are more than welcome to join through one of the other participation options.
Modes of Participation
- Talent Challenger
- Table-Booth
22,000 yen | Free of charge for Talent Challengers
- Only member companies may apply.
- One table-booth at the exhibition area of the event
- You receive one table which you can use for displaying of company material. You may also setup banners etc. behind the table.
- General Admission for AHK Japan Members and University Students
Free of charge
- Admission for one person to the event
Registration for companies:
Disclaimer ©2026 German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (AHK Japan). No part of this presentation may be reproduced without prior permission. While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, no guarantees for the currency or accuracy of information are made. All material relating to information, products and services (or to third party information, products and services), is provided 'as is', without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind, including the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy. The speakers are solely responsible for the content thereof; In no event will the organizer and/or the speakers be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from infringement or any defect of rights of the content of the presentation. Views expressed are not necessarily those of AHK Japan. All our events follow Chatham House Rules.
