The 51st Annual Japanese Speech Contest for Elementary School Students
2026/3/12
Presenting award to participant
On Sunday, March 1, the 51st Annual Japanese Speech Contest for Elementary School Students was held at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California in San Francisco's Japantown. This contest is co-organized by 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.
Thirty-one elementary school students participated in this year’s contest, demonstrating their achievement of Japanese language studies and their passion to express themselves. The audience included students’ family, friends, and teachers attending in support of the contestants.
Judges were impressed with the contestants’ Japanese language and communication skills and encouraged them to apply their experience to further strengthen global friendship into the future.
The Consulate would like to congratulate all of this year’s contestants and commend each of them on their hard work.
Photos courtesty of Hokka Nichi Bei Kai.
Thirty-one elementary school students participated in this year’s contest, demonstrating their achievement of Japanese language studies and their passion to express themselves. The audience included students’ family, friends, and teachers attending in support of the contestants.
Judges were impressed with the contestants’ Japanese language and communication skills and encouraged them to apply their experience to further strengthen global friendship into the future.
The Consulate would like to congratulate all of this year’s contestants and commend each of them on their hard work.
Photos courtesty of Hokka Nichi Bei Kai.
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: | Maya (Yuri) Kimura (Clarendon Elementary School) “What I’ve Learned From Playing Basketball” |
| 2nd Place: | Sydney Akari Morioka (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “A One-Year-Late Shichi-Go-San Celebration” |
| 3rd Place: | Greta Masterson (American International Montessori School) “I Found My Dream!” |
| Special Recognition: | Kiera Chu (American International Montessori School) “Power of Effort” |
| Special Recognition: | Ruby Leroy (Clarendon Elementary School) “Thank You, Juba” |
| Special Recognition: | Sayuri Wong (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “Me and Gymnastics” |
| Special Recognition: | Leona Barry (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “My Exciting Tennis Camp” |
| Category 2 (Contestants who come from homes where Japanese is spoken) | |
| 1st Place: | Ryo Chanyontpatanakul (Sakura Gakuen) “The Fun of Puns” |
| 2nd Place: | Kaya Webster (Clarendon Elementary School) “Grandpa's Farm” |
| 3rd Place: | Theo Sauer (Sakura Gakuen) “Do Not Want to Write” |
| Special Recognition: | Kenzo Celebisoy (American International Montessori School) “Salute! My Dream Job” |
| Special Recognition: | Keito Stahler (Sakura Gakuen) “My Polar Bear and Me” |
| Special Recognition: | Maxwell Sotaro Kong (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “My Winter Vacation with Mochi” |
| Special Recognition: | Jack Shintaro Wilkinson (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “Confidence I Gained Through Basketball and My Families Support” |
| Special Recognition: | Elliot Natsume Lemmi (Clarendon Elementary School) “Stubbornness is My Power” |
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: | Marina Storesund (American International Montessori School) “My Experience at the Osaka Expo” |
| 2nd Place: | Joshua Chan (Clarendon Alternative Elementary School) “Not Letting Feelings Take Control” |
| 3rd Place: | Zara Chu (American International Montessori School) “Magic-Like Cooking Time” |
| Special Recognition: | Aurora Ina-Lee (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “The Meaning Behind The Name” |
| Special Recognition: | Suzuna Hernandez (American International Montessori School) “Saving the Oceans From Plastic” |
| Special Recognition: | Elliott Purchia (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “Immigrants From Italy” |
| Special Recognition: | Aki Kisei Kori (Clarendon Elementary School) “Family: My greatest treasure” |
| Special Recognition: | Duncan Wong (Sakura Gakuen) “My Dream in Japan” |
| Special Recognition: | Landry Lau (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “A Photo of a Japanese American Child in 1942” |
| Category 4 (Contestants who come from homes where Japanese is spoken) | |
| 1st Place: | Emi Visse (Clarendon Elementary School) “The Strength to Face My Fears” |
| 2nd Place: | Hana Wilson (Clarendon Elementary School) “Backpacking Connects Me to Earth” |
| 3rd Place: | Ryō Mitsuishi (American International Montessori School) “A Peaceful World” |
| Special Recognition: | Kohei Noguchi (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “Immigration” |
| Special Recognition: | Noémi Espanol (American International Montessori School) “My New Family Member” |
| Special Recognition: | Nico Ordonez (Rosa Parks Elementary School) “My Dream” |
| Special Recognition: | Juniper Chessen (American International Montessori School) “How to Build a Good Relationship With Your Pet” |
Judges
Mr. Hiroshi Dambara
Consul, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco
Mr. Kenji Furushiro
Vice President, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Dr. Masahiko Minami
(Head Judge) President, Northern California Japanese Teachers’ Association
Ms. Miho Greenburg
Chief Operating Officer, Japan Society of Northern California
Mr. Matthew Hunter
Producer, Localization, VIZ Media, LLC
Consul, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco
Mr. Kenji Furushiro
Vice President, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California
Dr. Masahiko Minami
(Head Judge) President, Northern California Japanese Teachers’ Association
Ms. Miho Greenburg
Chief Operating Officer, Japan Society of Northern California
Mr. Matthew Hunter
Producer, Localization, VIZ Media, LLC
