Eligibility
Though only Japanese language students are eligible to enter the contest, anyone can participate by voting!

1. You must be currently enrolled in a Japanese language course (or have been enrolled sometime after May 01, 2011—the end of the previous Japanese Superstar Contest) in order to enter this contest.
2. If you are under 13 years old, you must have your parent or legal guardian submit the signed permission form.
3. You can only enter one video per contest. This means that if you submit a video for the Group Category, you cannot enter a Solo Category video in the same year, and vice-versa.

Video Submission Guidelines
You must submit your video by 11:59 p.m. EST, April 03, 2012 in order to be considered.

1. The performance should primarily be in Japanese.
2. The vocals on the video should be your own. You can edit your video, or pre-record the vocals, but make no substitutions or other digital manipulation.
3. As you'll be submitting your videos on YouTube, you are subject to all of their terms of use.
4. Use a karaoke track for your song, rather than singing over the original. The judges want to hear you!
5. You must include the song lyrics (in Japanese) either in by subtitling your video and/or in the lyrics field when you post your video.
6. Avoid a "Parental Advisory" rating. If your video contains offensive language, or any other inappropriate material you might be disqualified.
7. IMPORTANT: Be respectful of copyrights. YouTube may remove your video if the track you choose is copyrighted, so find a song with an open license or use original music.
8. You must submit a new video that has not been submitted in previous SuperStar competitions.

Finalists
Solo and group entries will be judged separately.

Twenty-four finalists will be selected by our judges (12 soloists and 12 group performances) on April 17, 2012. Submissions will be judged equally on singing ability, creativity, and pronunciation (based on proficiency level).

Voting
The winning entries will be decided by your votes. Any registered user will be able to vote for his or her favorite finalists on this website beginning April 18, 2012 through April 24, 2012 and the winners will be announced April 25, 2012. Register on our home page or through Facebook Connect.

Supervote!
When the judges select their finalists, they will also independently rank their favorite three entries in each category. These rankings will remain secret until April 20, 2012. On that day, the rankings will be converted into a supervote according to this formula:

• A judge's 3rd-favorite video will receive a bonus of 5% of the total votes.
• A judge's 2nd-favorite video will receive a bonus of 10% .
• A judge's favorite video will receive a bonus of 15% of the total votes.

The above percentages will be based on the collective total number of 2012 Japanese Superstar video votes on April 20, 2012, at 12:00 pm (noon) EST. The new Supervote totals will go live on the website and we will post an announcement of the results of the Supervote on our Facebook page. Contestants still have time to influence the final vote numbers before the contest ends.

Winners
The solo and group performances with the most votes at the contest close (11:59 pm EST on April 24th) will be named SuperStar winners, and 2nd place in each category will be named Runner-Up so there will be four winning videos in all.

Prizes
SuperStar and Runner-Up winners can choose from any of the prizes listed for their category. 

Official Rules

ELIGIBILITY: If you are younger than 13 years of age at the time you enter the Contest, you must have your parent or legal guardian submit a parental permission form. Verification of your age may be required at the time you submit your entry. Contestants must have been actively enrolled in a Japanese language course at the time of the contest or at some time since the end of the previous year's contest (May 01, 2011) and must have Internet access. Employees of Cheng & Tsui Company and the immediate family members (spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, ward, daughter or son) or members of the households of such employees whether or not related are not eligible to enter or win a prize. By entering, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. This Contest and eligibility are subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and may be void where prohibited by law.

CONTEST PERIOD: The "Cheng & Tsui Super Star Annual National Karaoke Contest for Japanese Language Students" presented by Cheng & Tsui Company (the "Sponsor") begins at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time ("EST") on February 01, 2012 and ends at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on April 24, 2012 ("Contest Period"). Judging of entries will begin at 12:00 a.m. (EST) on April 03, 2012 and end at 12:00 p.m. noon (EST) on April 17, 2012 (the "Judging Period"). Open public voting will begin at 12:00 a.m. midnight (EST) on April 18, 2012 and end at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on April 24, 2012 (the "Voting Period"). All Contest times will be measured by computer system clock. Online access via the Contest website (as detailed below) is required for detailed information and instructions.

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST: During the Contest Period, go to www.cheng-tsui.com/superstar (the "Web Site") to review Contest rules, learn more about the prizes, meet the judges and enter the Contest.

PARTICIPATION:

1. Limit one (1) entry per person or group. Single submissions from more than one person (duet, group, etc.) are encouraged but with the understanding that any prize will be shared amongst the winning group.
2. Contestants must be enrolled in a Japanese language course at the time of entry (exceptions made for contestants who were enrolled in a Japanese course after May 1, 2011—e.g. over the summer or during the fall semester). Contestants must have Internet access.
3. All entries (submissions) must be submitted via our Website during the Contest Period. To enter, upload your music video on YouTube and follow the instructions on www.cheng-tsui.com/superstar/enter. Registration on YouTube must be completed before a video can be submitted.
4. The songs must be sung in Japanese and the voices heard must be those of the performers featured. Any genre (pop, hip-hop, traditional, folk, etc.) is permissible.
5. The lyrics to the chosen song must appear in Japanese either through subtitling in the actual video or in the lyrics field when you post your video.
6. Videos submitted must not have been previously submitted to Cheng & Tsui Superstar Karaoke Contest or to any other contest. Videos where it is evident that the performance was previously submitted or created for another contest will be disqualified.
7. Eligible songs are limited to those that are available as a karaoke track (i.e. music without original vocals) only, under public domain, or original songs.
8. SONGS MUST NOT CONTAIN INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE OR SUBJECT MATTER.
9. INAPPROPRIATE ENTRIES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE SPONSOR.
10. All video must be original videos that have not been submitted in previous SuperStar competitions.

VIDEO GUIDELINES: YouTube accepts video files from most digital cameras, camcorders, and cell phones in the .WMV, .AVI, .MOV, and .MPG file formats. All videos uploaded to YouTube have a 100MB file size limit. All Entries must comply with the Terms of Use and Code of Conduct of YouTube, located at YouTube Community Guidelines. By entering the Contest, you agree to be bound by the Terms of Use and Code of Conduct found on YouTube Terms of Use. At the time of registration you will be required to accept that you have read and agree to these Official Rules and the policies, terms and conditions for the YouTube Web site.


OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

1. Entries received via the Web Site after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 03, 2012 will be deemed ineligible for participation in the Contest. Any attempt at entry except as above stated shall be void.
2. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for illegible, lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete entries, system errors and failures, faulty transmissions, or other telecommunications malfunctions. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate or suspend the Contest should any unauthorized intervention or other cause beyond the control of the Sponsor affect the administration or conduct of the Contest.
3. The rights granted under this paragraph shall extend to Cheng & Tsui Company and its affiliated companies with respect to all entries and all other submitted materials related to the Contest, including those submitted by non-winners and winners.

PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING: By submitting an entry you irrevocably assign to Cheng & Tsui Company the right to display, modify and edit your entry for the purposes of promoting and advertising your entry and the Contest. By entering, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules including all eligibility requirements. By accepting a prize, winners consent to the use of their names, images, likenesses, photos, voices, and biographical materials for advertising, publicity, and promotional purposes by Cheng & Tsui Company including but not limited to any online announcements, without additional notice or compensation, except where prohibited by law. Entrants agree that any and all disputes shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Entrants agree that the conditions of submission set forth in these Official Rules, and all documents and agreements incorporated in these Official Rules by reference, solely govern the relationship between entrants and Sponsor in connection with this Contest.

JUDGING: Submissions will be narrowed down to the top TWELVE for each of the two categories: solo performance and group performance, by a qualified panel of independent judges, named by Cheng & Tsui Company (the "Independent Judges"). Judging will be based on presentational creativity, musical talent, Japanese pronunciation (based on declared proficiency level). These finalists will be decided upon and posted on the Website by 12:00 pm (noon) EST on April 17, 2012.

SELECTION OF THE WINNER: One First Place Winner (Super Star) and one Runner-up for each category (solo and group) will be chosen by the online community. Starting at 12:00 am (midnight) EST, April 18, 2012, anyone can go to a finalist video entry page via our Web Site, review the videos, register and vote for his or her favorite videos (one vote per video). Voting will end on 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 24, 2012. Winners will be announced by the end of the the business day, Eastern Time, April 25, 2012.

PRIZES: For solo or group performances:
1st place (SuperStar) - may choose one of the following:

• Nintendo Wii
• Nintendo 3DS
• $250 gift certificate to Cheng & Tsui

2nd place (Runner-up) - may choose one of the following:

• 4GB UltraHD™Flip camcorder
• Kindle
• $150 gift certificate to Cheng & Tsui

All taxes and any other costs and expenses not specifically stated within these Official Rules are the sole responsibility of the winners. Prizes may not be transferred, substituted or redeemed for cash, except at Sponsor's sole discretion. Specifics of the prizes are in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Prizes are subject to availability and Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to award a prize of equal or greater value if advertised prizes or a portion of the prizes is unavailable. This Contest is governed by U.S. law and is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void in Puerto Rico, all U.S. territories and possessions, overseas military installations and wherever prohibited by law.

WINNERS: The selected potential winners will be notified by email or telephone within twenty-four (24) hours of the close of the Contest Period. In the event of noncompliance with either the rules or any of these time periods, an alternate winner may be selected at Sponsor's discretion. Sponsor has the right to revise dates and procedures mentioned in these rules. For the names of the winners, available after April 25, 2012, please visit Cheng & Tsui SuperStar.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: ENTRANTS HEREBY AGREE TO RELEASE, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS CHENG & TSUI COMPANY, INC. AND EMPLOYEES (THE "RELEASEES") FROM ANY CLAIMS, ACTIONS, INJURY, LOSSOR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, RESULTING FROM PARTICIPATING IN THIS CONTEST, INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THISCONTEST OR FROM THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, OR USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZEAWARDED OR PARTICIPATION OR INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRIZE-RELATEDACTIVITY. THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS A COMPREHENSIVE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY THAT APPLIES TO ALL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) COMPENSATORY, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES; LOSS OF DATA, INCOME, OR PROFIT; LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY; AND CLAIMS OF THIRD PARTIES. PARTICIPANTS AGREE THAT RELEASEES HAVE NOT MADE NOR IS IN ANY MANNER RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION, OR GUARANTEE, STATUTORY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, TITLE, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE), INFACT OR IN LAW, RELATIVE TO THE CONTEST. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, CHENG & TSUI DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE WEB SITE AND CHENG & TSUI SHALL NOT BELIABLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY INTERRUPTIONS OR ERRORS RELATED THERETO.THESE TERMS GIVE YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS. THE PROVISIONS REGARDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE VOID IN SOME PROVINCES WHERE IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE PRESCRIBEDBY LAW. Releasees are not responsible for lost, late, illegible, damaged, or stolen entries or submissions, or problems of any kind, whether mechanical, human or electronic. Releasees are not responsible for technical, hardware or software malfunctions, telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, inability to access a website, fraud, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions or inaccurate transcription of entry information, whether caused by Cheng & Tsui, users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this promotion or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions which may damage a user's system or limit a participant's ability to participate in the promotion. Entry materials that have been tampered with or altered are void. Cheng & Tsui reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend part or all of this Contest, or modify these Official rules at any time without notice, if in the Sponsor's opinion there is any suspected or actual evidence of electronic or non-electronic tampering with any portion of the Contest, or if virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or integrity and proper play of the Contest. In such event, Cheng & Tsui may void any entries they suspect are at issue and award prizes from among all eligible entries received up to the date of cancellation. WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEB SITE OR ANY ONLINE SERVICE RELATED TO THIS PROMOTION OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY'S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Official rules shall not constitute a waiver of that or any other provision. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify entrants who violate the rules or interfere with this Contest in any manner. If an entrant is disqualified, Sponsor reserves the right to terminate that entrant's eligibility to participate in the Contest. Any attempts by an individual to access any web site associated with this competition via a bot script or other brute force attack or any other unauthorized means will result in the IP address and all entries from that IP address becoming ineligible. Use of automated entry devices or programs is prohibited.

SPONSOR AND ADMINISTRATOR:
Cheng & Tsui Company, Inc., 25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111

www.cheng-tsui.com