The TOHO Challenge

In short

• Each year a palette of TOHO seed bead colors is announced, and beaders make an original piece using only those colors.
• It is a showcase, not a contest: no entry fee, judging or prizes have been published. Selected pieces are shown in an online gallery on TOHO’s website.
• The 2026 theme is “You Are Mermazing!” Photos were due September 15, 2026, according to participating bead shops, so the 2026 season has closed.
• Past seasons were announced in spring with the same September 15 deadline, so a 2027 palette may follow in spring 2027. That is our expectation, not an announcement.

Krazy Stitcher is not affiliated with or endorsed by TOHO CO., LTD., Team TOHO or Starman Inc. TOHO is a trademark of TOHO CO., LTD. For current rules and dates, always check the organizers’ own pages listed below.

Who runs it

The challenge is run by Team TOHO, the US group that promotes TOHO seed beads, together with Starman Inc., the US distributor of TOHO beads. TOHO CO., LTD. in Hiroshima, Japan publishes the featured pieces at tohobeads.net/toho-challenge, with galleries for every year from 2013 to 2025. Around 25 to 30 featured designers appear each year, from Japan, the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

The 2026 palette: “You Are Mermazing!”

The organizers describe the 2026 colors as inspired by Japanese legends, art and mermaid stories. Your piece does not have to show a mermaid. The palette has 16 TOHO seed bead colors, 7 Czech glass colors from Starman and 1 crystal color. As we understand the rules, a TOHO color number may be used in any TOHO size or shape.

Names vary a little from shop to shop; the TOHO number is what counts. One shop’s list leaves out 164BF; Eureka notes that 164B and 164BF are two different colors. The Czech glass colors are Starman stock numbers 24709, 48113, 7010, MX2398, 94104, 6002 and 48013, and the crystal color is an iridescent light turquoise pearl.

How taking part works

This is our summary of the 2026 guidelines as published by participating shops. The organizers’ wording is the one that counts.

• Make an original piece in any technique, using only colors from the year’s palette.
• Try to use at least a little of every palette color. TOHO seed beads should be the star.
• You may use the palette colors in any size or shape, but no other seed beads or Czech beads.
• One focal item of your choice, such as a single pendant or cabochon, is allowed.
• Clasps, findings, backing, thread and fiber are fine if they stay within the palette colors and are used sparingly.
• Send photos of the finished piece to Team TOHO: by message to the Team TOHO Facebook page and by email to Starman (info@starmaninc.com), by the season’s deadline.

Getting the beads

Bead shops sell a TOHO Challenge mini kit each year, for example Artbeads and Eureka Crystal Beads in the US and Twinkle Beads in Germany. Shops describe the kit differently, and at least one says it does not include every color, so check the listing. You can also buy any palette color by its TOHO number from your usual supplier.

Planning a challenge piece in Krazy Stitcher

For a woven piece such as a peyote, brick stitch or loom bracelet, you can plan the design in Krazy Stitcher before you pick up a needle:

• In Pro and Studio, save the challenge colors as your own palette (Custom Bead Library), naming each color with its TOHO number, so the bead counts come out in TOHO numbers.
• Choose the stitch, and use Bead Shape to draw the beads you will use (for example 11/0 Toho Treasure or Aiko cylinders) in their real proportions.
• Check the bead count for each color, then print the chart with its color key to take to your bead table.

On-screen colors are approximations of real beads, especially for lined, rainbow and frosted finishes, so compare with your actual beads. Krazy Stitcher Base comes with a 60-day free trial.

Past themes

Sources

• TOHO CO., LTD.: TOHO Challenge galleries
• Team TOHO on Facebook
• Eureka Crystal Beads: TOHO Challenge 2026 (palette and guidelines)
• Artbeads: 2026 TOHO Challenge (deadline and guidelines)
• Twinkle Beads: Toho Challenge 2026 (in German)

Spotted something out of date? Email info@krazystitcher.com.