The 23rd Japanese Language Speech Contest in Ottawa
On Saturday, March 3, 2012, the Organizing Committee for the Japanese Language Speech Contest in Ottawa, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan, was pleased to present the 23rd Japanese Language Speech Contest in Ottawa at the Embassy of Japan’s auditorium. The sponsors this year were The Japan Foundation, Mitsui Canada, Boko Bakery, and C’est Japon à Suisha.
A total of 23 contestants from students to the general public expressed themselves through impassioned speeches. This year approximately 90 people including participants currently studying Japanese and related people attended the event. The auditorium would at times be filled with laughter and also there were people who nodded in agreement at some speeches.
In his opening remarks, Minister Yawata mentioned that language is a crucial and unique way in which humans connect to one another. He further mentioned that over the many years of friendly relations between Canada and Japan, there have been countless communications that have bound our two countries together. He also said that Japan will observe the one year anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake soon and reiterated his gratitude for all the support from Canada after the disaster.
Contestants were divided into four categories: High School, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. The 1st prize winners of three categories (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) will be representing the Ottawa region and participating in the National Japanese Speech Contest at the University of British Columbia on Saturday, March 31, 2012.
While the judges were making their final decisions prior to presenting prizes to the winners at the award ceremony, participants had an opportunity to watch one of NHK’s special documentary films about the reconstruction efforts in the areas devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The film was titled “Can You See Our Lights? First Festival after the Tsunami.” The film depicts the struggles of evacuees to repair damaged floats and Japanese drums in order to hold their annual Tanabata Festival (the Star Festival) in Rikuzen-takada City in Iwate Prefecture. The film also shows people in affected areas participating in a festival that recreates a battle scene called Nomaoi in Fukushima Prefecture.
The results for the speech contest are as follows:
High School
1: Sophie Matte (Ottawa Japanese Language School)
2: Nicholas Galton (Ottawa Japanese Language School)
3: Natasha Lomonossoff (Ottawa Japanese Language School)
Beginner
1: Yuan Zhu (Ottawa University)
2: Andrew Froh (Carleton University)
3: Valentina Carias (Ottawa Japanese Language School)
Intermediate
1: Hiu Tung Ho (Ottawa University)
2: Sojin Park (Carleton University)
3: Vincent Parisien (Ottawa Japanese Language School)
Advanced
1: Dylan Wang (Carleton University)
2: Xin Sun (Queen’s University)
3: Christopher O'Donnell (Ottawa Japanese Language School)
Special Prize Winners
Mohamed Oudah (Ottawa University)
Chih-Hong Pang (Queen’s University)
Melinda Ainsworth-Roy (Ottawa Japanese Language School)
Hana Jimenez (Ottawa Japanese Language School)
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