The 47th Annual Japanese Speech Contest for Middle School and High School Students
2024/11/14
A contestant delivers her speech during the contest
A contestant delivers her speech during the contest
On Sunday, November 3, 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 Middle School and High School students at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California.
Two middle school students and seven high school students participated in this year’s contest, demonstrating their achievement of Japanese language studies and preparation for this contest. Each contestant shared their unique speeches with a variety of topics. In the audience were contestants’ families, teachers, and fellow students attending in support of the contestants.
Judges from both divisions were impressed with the contestants’ Japanese language and communication skills and encouraged participants to apply their experience to further strengthen global friendship into the future.
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.
Two middle school students and seven high school students participated in this year’s contest, demonstrating their achievement of Japanese language studies and preparation for this contest. Each contestant shared their unique speeches with a variety of topics. In the audience were contestants’ families, teachers, and fellow students attending in support of the contestants.
Judges from both divisions were impressed with the contestants’ Japanese language and communication skills and encouraged participants to apply their experience to further strengthen global friendship into the future.
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.
Results:
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: | Margarita (Maggie) Ferrer (12th Grade, George Washington High School) “The Power of Goodbyes” |
| 2nd Place: | Leslie James (10th Grade, Robert Louis Stevenson School) “My Life As A New Student” |
| 3rd Place: | Jessica Lee (12th Grade, George Washington High School) “I Was Lost, But I Found Myself” |
| Special Recognition: | Kaylen Ishihara (8th Grade, Jane L. Stanford Middle School) “Frozen Fingers” |
| Special Recognition: | Danica Zivkovic (9th Grade, Kinmon Gakuen Japanese Language School) “Why Japanese?” |
Category 2 (Contestants who come from homes where Japanese is spoken)
| 1st Place: | Aisha Lee (7th Grade, Diablo Nippongo Gakuen) “To Love Oneself” |
| 2nd Place: | Sayuri Perez (11th Grade, George Washington High School) “The Future” |
| 3rd Place: | Ayame Sengoku (11th Grade, San Mateo Nippon Gakuen) “75% of Me” |
Judges
Contestants and their families, friends, and teachers in the audience
Consul Dambara gives comments to contestants
Mr. Keijiro Hora
Executive Director, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Dr. Masahiko Minami (Head Judge)
Representative, Northern California Japanese Teachers’ Association
Ms. Miho Greenburg
Chief Operating Officer, Japan Society of Northern California
Mr. Matthew Hunter
Associate Producer, Localization, VIZ Media, LLC
Mr. Hiroshi Dambara
Consul Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco
Dr.Minami giving closing remarks
