Organizing Committee Recruitment

The Japan Chess Federation is launching a new recruitment for Organizing Committee Members who will be involved from the planning and preparation stages of selected large-scale tournaments.

 

Until now, the Japan Chess Federation has recruited two types of staff:

• Tournament Staff, who support tournament operations on the day of the event

• Volunteer Staff, who provide ongoing support for the Federation’s daily activities

However, in recent years, due to the growing number of participants and the expansion of tournament scale, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain the same level of tournament quality without additional support.

To address this challenge—and to further improve the quality of our tournaments—we will establish an Organizing Committee for selected large-scale events. This committee will be responsible for the entire process from tournament planning through execution, and we are now recruiting Organizing Committee Members to join these efforts.

 

What Are Organizing Committee Members?

For selected large-scale tournaments, the Japan Chess Federation will establish an Organizing Committee in addition to the existing structure. Federation staff will serve as leaders of the committee and work together with selected members to plan and run the tournament.

Organizing Committee Members will participate as mid-term staff, taking part in the full process leading up to the event, including tournament planning, advance preparations, and other tasks up until the start of the tournament.

This role sits between Tournament Staff, who are involved only on the tournament day, and Volunteer Staff, who provide long-term support for the Federation’s ongoing activities.

 

Some applicants may wonder, “If I become an Organizing Committee Member, will I be unable to play in that tournament?”

Please be assured that Organizing Committee Members may still participate in the tournament as players.

Tournament-day operations will continue to be handled by Tournament Staff and Volunteer Staff, as they have been in the past.

In addition, the Federation has accumulated extensive operational know-how, so the Organizing Committee will not be starting from scratch. You can participate with confidence, even if this is your first time being involved in tournament organization.

 

Anyone who can communicate smoothly in Japanese and use text-based communication on a PC or smartphone is welcome to apply.
*Organizing Committee Members must be members of the Japan Chess Federation.

No chess strength or prior tournament management experience is required.

All activities are conducted online, so participation is possible regardless of your place of residence and can be done entirely from home.

 

Main Activities (Examples)

The following are examples of activities carried out by Organizing Committee Members. In addition to these, there are various other tasks. Specific responsibilities will be discussed and adjusted during the interview based on each member’s interests, availability, and circumstances, ensuring a reasonable and manageable workload.

• Tournament planning and policy development

• Preparation of tournament regulations and information

• Tasks related to pre-tournament preparations

• Support for publicity, communications, and other administrative work, etc.

 

Tournaments Seeking Organizing Committee Members (2026)

The activity period for the Organizing Committee is approximately three to six months, from the start of tournament planning through the tournament day. Communication will be conducted primarily via text, with online meetings held as needed.

For the 2026 season, we are recruiting Organizing Committee Members for the following tournaments:

 

Japan Chess Classic (August 9–12, held in Osaka)
Application deadline: January 31, 2026
Activity start: February 2026

 

Japan Open (scheduled for November)
Application deadline: March 31, 2026
Activity start: April 2026

 

An Organizing Committee will be established for each tournament, and members will work as a team together with Federation staff to create and deliver the event.

 

Member Benefits

In order to encourage more people to participate in creating our tournaments, Organizing Committee Members will receive free entry to the tournament they are assigned to.

If a member does not participate in the tournament as a player, an honorarium equivalent to the tournament entry fee will be provided instead.

*This benefit is contingent upon completing a certain level of activity and contribution as an Organizing Committee Member.

 

We Welcome Applicants Who:

• Wish to contribute to the development of the chess community

• Are interested in being involved in tournament organization

• Find long-term commitments difficult but are interested in supporting the Federation

• Would like to work on a project-based basis

• Enjoy creating something together as part of a team

 

How to Apply

Please apply using the Google Form linked below.

Organizing Committee Member Application Form

 

Application Process