Categories, Voting, & Awards

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Once videos are submitted, RICE participants suggest which award categories (and their names) should be used during the event. These can range from common categories like "Drama" to more obscure/funny ones like "Most Dogs."

The top voted-for award names will be the ones that receive awards at the end of the event.
The amount of awards scale with the number of video entries. Each winner of these categories will receive an award certificate. Awards are 5x7" (12.7x17.78cm) cards.

Custom Award Scaling
≤ 49 videos → 7 categories
50 - 70 videos → 9 categories
71+ videos → 11 categories

Permanent Awards

In addition to the above category awards, there are some permanent awards:

• 
  Omurice (オムライス・アワード) - Top Honors
  This is the most-liked video overall, as voted on by RICE participants.
  In next year's RICE, the winner is able to give their own Okonomi award to another video.
  Receives: certificate + sticker

• 
  Omakase (お任せ・アワード) - Coordinator's Choice
  The coordinator awards this to their favorite video.
  Receives: Certificate + Sticker

• 
  Okonomi (お好み・アワード) - Previous Omurice Winner's Choice
  The previous year's winner of Omurice gives this to their favorite video. It is similar to an honorable mention, and may have a different name when awarded.
  Receives: special double-sided certificate + regular award certificate

• 
  Umami (旨味) - Theme
  The Umami is the most-liked themed video. The theme is changed every year and is announced at the end of the previous year's RICE Awards video.
  The coordinator chooses the theme, but the entrants ultimately decide what videos qualify and win Umami.
  Participation in the theme is optional and has no bearing on the other awards.
  Receives: certificate + sticker

• 
  Okazu (おかず・アワード) - Spectators' Choice
  If there are spectators participating, they vote to award the video they liked the most.
  Receives: certificate

• 
  Wandering Samurice (ライス・ア・ロニン) - Wildcard Award
  Entrants nominate videos to this category like any other. However, videos that become finalists in other categories are excluded from Wandering Samurice.
  This award highlights exemplary videos that don't fit elsewhere, giving recognition to quality work that is harder to categorize.
  Receives: certificate + sticker

• 
  Tamago Don (玉子丼) - Top Non-finalist
  Voted on by all RICE entrants, this is awarded to the most-liked video that did not make finals.
  Receives: certificate

Physical Awards

The award certificates are 5x7" (12.7x17.78cm) cards. Every award receives a certificate.
Some permanent awards receive a sticker in addition to the certificate. Those stickers are 4" (10.16cm) on their longest side, except for Omurice, which is 6.5" (16.51cm).

Awards are mailed globally from the USA in an A9-sized envelope. They are considered letter mail and should not be stopped by customs.

Voting Phases