The 36th Japanese Speech Contest in Ottawa
2025/3/1
On March 1, the Embassy of Japan and the Organizing Committee for the Japanese Speech Contest in Ottawa held the 36th Japanese Speech Contest in Ottawa (The contest was organized with the support of Mitsui Canada Foundation, the Japan Foundation Toronto, Carleton University, and Blue Tree Books) at the Embassy’s Information and Culture Centre.
A total of 26 contestants competed in four different categories and showed the results of their Japanese language studies.
Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi delivered remarks, stating that active exchanges are taking place between Japan and Canada in a wide range of fields, including business as well as science and technology, and that people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are indeed an important foundation of bilateral relations. Associate Professor Geoff Pinchbeck, Interim Director of the School of Linguistics and Language Studies at Carleton University, also gave a speech.
In addition, during the event, Ms. Talia Fisher, who went to Japan as a participant of the Japanese Government's JET programme, gave a presentation on her experience. The JET Programme is an official Japanese Government scheme aiming to promote international exchange at grassroots level and to improve foreign language education. At the end, Mr. Matthew Fraser (Global Affairs Canada), Chief Judge, gave feedback on the contest.
The first prize winners in each category of beginners, intermediate, and advanced earned the right to participate in the Canadian National Japanese Speech Contest to be held at York University in Toronto on March 30th.
The 1st prizes of the speech contest are the following.
Beginners Category:
The 1st Prize: Lillian Liu (Queen’s University) “Spring Rain”
Intermediate Category:
The 1st Prize: Lucy Lu (Carleton University) “Friendship, like the Changing Seasons”
Advanced Category:
The 1st Prize: Maweixing Chen (University of Ottawa) “To you Who are Walking on a Thorny Path”
Open Category:
The 1st Prize: Sage Arshad (University of Ottawa) “Kamakura”
A total of 26 contestants competed in four different categories and showed the results of their Japanese language studies.
Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi delivered remarks, stating that active exchanges are taking place between Japan and Canada in a wide range of fields, including business as well as science and technology, and that people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are indeed an important foundation of bilateral relations. Associate Professor Geoff Pinchbeck, Interim Director of the School of Linguistics and Language Studies at Carleton University, also gave a speech.
In addition, during the event, Ms. Talia Fisher, who went to Japan as a participant of the Japanese Government's JET programme, gave a presentation on her experience. The JET Programme is an official Japanese Government scheme aiming to promote international exchange at grassroots level and to improve foreign language education. At the end, Mr. Matthew Fraser (Global Affairs Canada), Chief Judge, gave feedback on the contest.
The first prize winners in each category of beginners, intermediate, and advanced earned the right to participate in the Canadian National Japanese Speech Contest to be held at York University in Toronto on March 30th.
The 1st prizes of the speech contest are the following.
Beginners Category:
The 1st Prize: Lillian Liu (Queen’s University) “Spring Rain”
Intermediate Category:
The 1st Prize: Lucy Lu (Carleton University) “Friendship, like the Changing Seasons”
Advanced Category:
The 1st Prize: Maweixing Chen (University of Ottawa) “To you Who are Walking on a Thorny Path”
Open Category:
The 1st Prize: Sage Arshad (University of Ottawa) “Kamakura”
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| Ambassador Yamanouchi delivering remarks |
Remarks by Dr. Geoff Pinchbeck, Interim Director of the School of Linguistics and Language Studies at Carleton University |
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| Remarks by Ms. Sasaki, Chair of the Organizing Committee |
Mr. Matthew Fraser (Global Affairs Canada), Chief Judge, giving feedback on the contest |
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| Ms. Talia Fisher, a former JET Programme participant, giving her presentation |
Chair of the Organizing Committee, judges, and contestants |