October 16, 2024 Holding of "National CTF Contest"

 The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will hold a Nationwide CTF Contest at seven venues across Japan on Saturday, November 30, 2024, with the aim of providing an opportunity for participants to acquire knowledge about cybersecurity through lectures and CTF*.

• *
  CTF (Capture the Flag) is a quiz-style competition in which participants use their knowledge and skills in the field of information security to find a hidden answer (flag).

1. Purpose

 In recent years, while the Internet has gained a foothold as the foundation of socio-economic activities, cybersecurity threats have become more malicious and sophisticated, and the need for cybersecurity is increasing. In addition, with the labor force expected to decline, developing and securing cybersecurity personnel is an important issue.
 This contest is designed to be open to everyone, not just those who have experience with CTF but also those who are new to CTF, with the aim of allowing participants to learn basic cybersecurity concepts and techniques through lectures by experts and CTF exercises and to deepen students' interest in the security field.

2. Date and time

 Saturday, November 30, 2024, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    (Registration begins at 12:30 p.m.)

3. Venues

Main venue

• Tokyo Venue: AP Tokyo Marunouchi ABC Room (1-1-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

Other venues

• Sendai Venue: TKP Garden City PREMIUM Sendai West Entrance Hall 8A (1-2-15 Kakyoin, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
• Kanazawa Venue: TKP Garden City PREMIUM Kanazawa Station West Exit Hall 2B (2-13-33 Hirooka, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture)
• Osaka Venue: AP Osaka Umeda East Room M (3-3 Doyamacho, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)
• Okayama Venue: Okayama Convention Center Room 301 (14-1 Ekimotomachi, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture)
• Matsuyama Venue: TKP Matsuyama City Station Conference Center Hall 2D (4-3-7 Chifunemachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture)
• Hakata Venue: TKP Garden City Hakata Shinkansen Exit 4-A (5-14 Hakataeki Chuo-gai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
• Online venue: Zoom

4. Program overview

Opening remarks

• YAMAUCHI Tomoo, Director-General for Cyber Security, MIC

Part 1

• Seminar: Cybersecurity lecture
   Lecturer: SONODA Michio, Director of the National Cyber Training Center, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)

Part 2

• CTF workshop
   Overview: Participants will compete for the highest score by solving cybersecurity-related problems.

   Lecturer: SONODA Michio, Director of the National Cyber Training Center, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)

   Lectures at some venues are provided by other organizations. (Please check the program for the relevant venue.)

5. Target participants

 Junior high school, high school, technical college, university and graduate students and young members of society (in their first three years) who are interested in cybersecurity

6. Capacity

 Capacity at each venue: 30 people; online capacity: 450 people in total across all regions (on a first come, first served basis)

7. Organizers

MIC: Cyber Security Directorate General's Office, Tohoku Bureau of Telecommunications, Kanto Bureau of
Telecommunications, Hokuriku Bureau of Telecommunications, Kinki Bureau of Telecommunications, Chugoku Bureau of
Telecommunications, Shikoku Bureau of Telecommunications, and Kyushu Bureau of Telecommunications

8. Participation Fee

Free

9. How to apply

Please apply using the following application form:

• Application form: https://www.kiis.or.jp/form/?id=192
• Application deadline: Thursday, November 21, 2024

• *
  The acceptance of applications and guidance for the workshop will be handled by the contractor, Kansai Information Center Foundation (KIIS).

10. Handling of personal information

 Personal information obtained at the time of application will be used only for administrative purposes related to the organization and running of this event and will be properly disposed of after the end of the event.
 In addition, photographs may be taken at each venue, and participants may be included by chance in these photographs. Please note that these photographs may be posted on the websites of MIC and others.