Congratulations Lauren Shaft, winner of this year’s #HolidaysInJapan photo contest

For the second year in a row, JUMP hosted its annual #HolidaysInJapan photo contest, and we were blown away by the talent and beauty of the photos submitted to the contest. This year’s winning entry came from Lauren Shaft, who is stationed with her family in Kanagawa, of her husband and two sons walking through the snow at Kitaguchihongu Fuji Sengenjinja Shrine during Thanksgiving weekend. Here’s how she described the moment she snapped the photo:

“When we arrived at the shrine, it looked like it was snowing due to the snow melting so quickly and falling. As we were walking through, trying to dodge large snow droppings, I snapped this shot of my family as the light hit them perfectly.”

Congratulations Lauren! As this year’s winner, she will receive a gift basket valued at $100 in goodies!

The top three photos were rounded out by a beautiful winter cityscape showing Tokyo Tower submitted by Jennifer Cox, who also is living in Japan with her active-duty spouse, and another showing a snow-covered castle in Japan with swans and koi fish in the foreground submitted by USN Petty Officer Heath Smith (whose superb photography can be viewed here). 

Both runners up are shown in the top row of the gallery. But we had many, many favorite photos — with more than 200 submissions, we picked out some of our favorites to feature below. A huge thanks to everyone who sent in entries!

Pictured is last year’s winning entry, courtesy of Shane and Sarah Cameron.

It’s that time of year again — the holiday season! JUMP is gearing up for it with another holiday photo contest. We’re gathering photos that show how Americans past and present celebrate the holidays while stationed in Japan. The #HolidaysinJapan photo contest is open to all ages and skill levels, current and retired military, family, friends, and anyone in between.

To submit your photos, email them to JUMP@spfusa.org or submit them to us on Facebook or Twitter. To be eligible to win, you also must join the JUMP network here. Don’t forget to tag all social media entries with #HolidaysinJapan and @JUMProgram! The deadline for submissions is January 15. (The submission period for this contest has concluded. Click here to see the announcement on this year’s winner!)

The winner will receive a gift basket valued at $100 in goodies, and see their photo featured on the JUMP website and social media accounts. We’ll also display all of our favorite submissions in a photo gallery.

Please note that by submitting your photos to a JUMP photo contest, you are giving permission for them to be used on the JUMP website and social media.

As the Japanese would say, ganbatte (do your best)!

To submit your photos, email them to JUMP@spfusa.org or submit them to us on Facebook or Twitter. To be eligible to win, you also must join the JUMP network here. Don’t forget to tag all social media entries with #HolidaysinJapan and @JUMProgram! The deadline for submissions is January 3.

The grand-prize winner will receive a Japan-themed gift basket valued at $100 along with a JUMP t-shirt and other JUMP swag. And of course, the winning photo will be featured on the JUMP website and social media accounts. We’ll also display all of our favorite submissions in a photo gallery.

Please note that by submitting your photos to a JUMP photo contest, you are giving permission for them to be used on the JUMP website and social media.

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Thank  you to everyone who participated and check out the winner here!