Results of the 47th Annual Japanese Speech Contest for Elementary School Students
2019/3/5
On Sunday, March 3rd, 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, co-organized the 47th Japanese Speech Contest for Elementary School Students at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California.
33 elementary school students participated in this year’s contest, and demonstrated their achievement of Japanese language studies and preparation for this contest. Approximately 150 audience members, including students’ family, friends, and teachers, also attended in support of the contestants.
The Consulate would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all of this year’s contestants and commend each of them on their hard work.
33 elementary school students participated in this year’s contest, and demonstrated their achievement of Japanese language studies and preparation for this contest. Approximately 150 audience members, including students’ family, friends, and teachers, also attended in support of the contestants.
The Consulate would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all of this year’s contestants and commend each of them on their hard work.
Result: Group A (1st- 3rd Grade)
Group photo with Category 1 participants
Group photo with Category 2 participants
Category 1 (Contestants who come from homes where Japanese is not spoken)
| 1st Place: | Eleanor May Twardos (3rd Grade, Clarendon JBBP Elementary School) “The Story of My Beginning” |
| 2nd Place: | Sophia Okuda-Lau (3rd Grade, San Mateo Nippon Gakuyen) “I Want to Be a Fashion Designer” |
| 3rd Place: | Jonah Adam Goldstone (3rd Grade, Clarendon JBBP Elementary School) “My Neighborhood, Bernal Heights” |
| Special Recognition: | Alani Jeansuwan Sanith (2nd Grade, Pine Japanese Language Afterschool) “Girl Scout” |
Category 2 (Contestants who come from homes where Japanese is spoken)
| 1st Place: | Mike Fujii (3rd Grade, Sakura Gakuen) “The Miracle Medicine” |
| 2nd Place: | Joseph Kawano Spargo (2nd Grade, Sakura Gakuen) “Building Japan” |
| 3rd Place: | Kei Chanyontpatanakul (2nd Grade, Sakura Gakuen) “Big Brother” |
| Special Recognition: | Ellie Mori Minami (3rd Grade, Clarendon JBBP Elementary School) “Fred Korematsu and My Father” |
Result: Group B (4th Grade and above)
Group photo with Category 3 participants
Group photo with Category 4 participants
Category 3 (Contestants who come from homes where Japanese is not spoken)
| 1st Place: | Emily Roan (5th Grade, Sakura Gakuen) “Echizen Washi Paper” |
| 2nd Place: | Leo B. Thomson (4th Grade, Clarendon JBBP Elementary School) “Into the Air” |
| 3rd Place: | Masao Li (4th Grade, Sakura Gakuen) “Grandpa's Morin Khuur” |
| Special Recognition: | Tyler Tachiki (5th Grade, Clarendon JBBP Elementary School) “The Kanagawa Bond Lives On” |
Category 4 (Contestants who come from homes where Japanese is spoken)
| 1st Place: | Leo Linsley (5th Grade, Clarendon JBBP Elementary School) “My Great-Grandfather, the Coal Miner” |
| 2nd Place: | Kai Michael Lyddan (5th Grade, Clarendon JBBP Elementary School) “My Favorite Food is Takoyaki!” |
| 3rd Place: | Saya Chanyontpatanakul (4th Grade, Sakura Gakuen) “My New Family Member” |
| Special Recognition: | Ayame Sengoku (5th Grade, San Mateo Nippon Gakuyen) “Kohaku Uta Gassen” |
Judges
A contestant delivers her speech during the contest
Judges’ comments by Deputy Consul General Iryu
Mr. Kazuhiro Iryu
Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco
Mr. Yasuhiko Yodo
Chairperson, Education Committee, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Ms. Junko Ito
College Representative, California Association of Japanese Language Teachers
Ms. Yachiyo Komori
Instructor, Japan Society of Northern California
Mr. Matthew Hunter
Associate Producer, Localization, VIZ Media, LLC
Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco
Mr. Yasuhiko Yodo
Chairperson, Education Committee, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Ms. Junko Ito
College Representative, California Association of Japanese Language Teachers
Ms. Yachiyo Komori
Instructor, Japan Society of Northern California
Mr. Matthew Hunter
Associate Producer, Localization, VIZ Media, LLC
