The 45th Annual Japanese Speech Contest
2018/11/9
Greeting by Consul General Uyama
Judges’ comments by Deputy Consul General Nagayoshi
On Sunday, November 4, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, the Japanese American Association of Northern California (Hokka Nichi Bei Kai), and the Northern California Japanese Teachers’ Association presented the 45th Annual Japanese Speech Contest at Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California located in San Francisco’s Japantown.
A total of 25 contestants demonstrated their hard work in studying Japanese language and communication skills during the Middle School and High School Student Division in the morning, and in the College Student and Adult Division in the afternoon. Each contestant shared their thoughts and experiences gained through studying Japanese language and culture. The audience, composed of friends, family, teachers, and fellow students, encouraged the contestants.
The top three winners from both divisions received special prizes from sponsor CAPCOM USA, Inc. The first place winner for the College Student and Adult Division received a round trip flight ticket to Japan from sponsor United Airlines. Each of the participants received special gift packages from New People, Inc.
Judges from both divisions were impressed with the caliber of this year’s speeches and the unique stories shared by each contestant. It was a close contest and the Judges encouraged participants to continue their studies in the Japanese language and to apply their skills in the future.
The Consulate would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all of the winners and commend each of this year’s contestants on their hard work.
A total of 25 contestants demonstrated their hard work in studying Japanese language and communication skills during the Middle School and High School Student Division in the morning, and in the College Student and Adult Division in the afternoon. Each contestant shared their thoughts and experiences gained through studying Japanese language and culture. The audience, composed of friends, family, teachers, and fellow students, encouraged the contestants.
The top three winners from both divisions received special prizes from sponsor CAPCOM USA, Inc. The first place winner for the College Student and Adult Division received a round trip flight ticket to Japan from sponsor United Airlines. Each of the participants received special gift packages from New People, Inc.
Judges from both divisions were impressed with the caliber of this year’s speeches and the unique stories shared by each contestant. It was a close contest and the Judges encouraged participants to continue their studies in the Japanese language and to apply their skills in the future.
The Consulate would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all of the winners and commend each of this year’s contestants on their hard work.
Result: Middle School and High School Student Division
The judges and contestants of the Middle School & High School Student Division, Category 1
The judges and contestants of the Middle School & High School Student Division, Category 2
Category 1 (Contestants who come from homes where Japanese is not spoken)
- 1st Place: Mr. Philip Chung, Henry M. Gunn High School, "The Bridge over Asia"
- 2nd Place: Mr. Qingyue Chen, Henry M. Gunn High School, "The Determination of an Anime Otaku"
- 3rd Place: Ms. Nishchala Beeram, Monta Vista High School, "The Power of Language"
Category 2 (Contestants who come from homes where Japanese is spoken)
- 1st Place: Ms. Erika Kawano Spargo, Sakura Gakuen, "Becoming the Cat's Meow"
- 2nd Place: Ms. Hannah Cho, Monta Vista High School, "Overcoming Challenges"
- 3rd Place: Mr. Hong Jin, Junípero Serra High School, "Iwakan of Katakana"
Participants of Middle School & High School Student Division
- Mr. Rohan Arora
- Mr. Seth Naoya Berger
- Mr. Logan Mondal Bhamidipaty
- Ms. Erica Cai
- Ms. Charlotte Chen
- Mr. Gabriel Ari Moussa
- Ms. Pui Ki (Betty) Ng
- Mr. Kai Kaulana Sam Fong
- Mr. Nicolas Issei Sarullo
- Mr. Cory Thomas Turnbaugh
- Ms. Emily Kimbara Zhu
Result: College Student and Adult Division
A contestant delivers her speech in the College Student & Adult Division
The judges and contestants of the College Student & Adult Division
- 1st Place: Ms. Yuwen Jian, University of California, Davis, "A Sparkling Charm in My Heart"
- 2nd Place: Ms. Emily Yu Wan, Stanford University, "Wa (bi) Sabi"
- 3rd Place: Ms. Mrunal Vinayak Joshi, Sakura Gakuen, "My Regrets"
Participants of College Student & Adult Division
- Ms. Cherish Liganor Aw
- Mr. Alvin Hadley
- Mr. Ellis Ryan Miller
- Mr. Raphael Molina Ramos
- Ms. Stacey Hoang-Kim Vu
Judges
Middle School & High School Student Division
- Mr. Shoichi Nagayoshi, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco
- Dr. Yoichi Aizawa, Executive Director, San Francisco Office, Waseda USA
- Ms. Christy Bartlett, Director, Urasenke Foundation San Francisco Branch
- Ms. Aya Ino, Director of Development & Communications, JCCCNC
- Professor Stephen Roddy, Department of Modern and Classical Languages, University of San Francisco
College Student & Adult Division
- Mr. Tomochika Uyama, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
- Mr. Lawrence Greenwood Jr., President, Japan Society of Northern California
- Ms. Arisa Hiroi, JET Program Alumna
- Ms. Kikuyo Nishida, Vice Principal, San Francisco Japanese School
- Mr. Tadao Ogaki, President, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
