The 12th Japanese Speech Contest
2019/3/16
The 12th Japanese Speech Contest was held at the Embassy of Japan on Saturday, 16th March 2019.
The Japanese Language Teachers Association of Kenya (JALTAK) and the Embassy of Japan organized the event which attracted about 150 people among them 10 Japanese speech contestants and 3 Japanese business presenters. This year’s speech contest also had a regional outlook as there was a contestant from Tanzania.
The contest was officially opened by the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Japan to the Republic of Kenya, Mr. Yoshihiro Katayama.
The event was sponsored by Rohto Mentholatum (Kenya) Ltd, Mitsui and Co. Europe PLC, Nippon Express, Valdivia Bio-Energized water, Japan Foundation, CASTALIA, Aviva Technologies Ltd, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Cheka Café, Cheka Japanese Restraint, HIS Kenya, Kakehashi Africa, JICA Kenya, The Nairobi Japanese School, JSPS, Bahati and ASAAVIK.
The panel of Judges for this contest was made up of senior representatives of the Japanese community in Kenya. They included, Mr. Naoki Kumagai, General Manager of Mitsui & Co. Europe Plc, Mr. Kotsuya Kuge, a Representative of the JICA Kenya Office, Mr. Atsushi Takikawa, Principal of the Japanese School in Nairobi and Ms. Monica Kahumburu, Japanese Language Lecturer from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Following the opening ceremony, the contestants took to the stage to show what they had studied and practiced to that day. While the result of the contest was discussed by the judges, Malaika Group and Vanessa Grant Girls’ School entertained the crowd with various Japanese themed performances.
The panel of Judges paying keen interest to all the presentations
The final results for the 12th Japanese Speech Contest were: Ms. Sylvia Taka Masaba, winner of the Japanese speech category who made a speech on Architecture inspired by the Japanese Culture and Mr. Ochieng George, winner of the Japanese business category who made a presentation on the economic burden of ugali and sukuma wiki, Kenya’s staple food.
After the winners of the contest were announced, the event was finally declared closed by Ms. Njeri Kagema, Chairperson of JALTAK Kenya.
Group photo of the participants of the 12th Japanese Speech Contest
Kenya currently has about 1,100 Japanese Language students and the number is growing. Some outstanding students have been given the opportunity to participate in the Japan Foundation’s Japanese Language training program in Japan.
The Japanese Language Teachers Association of Kenya (JALTAK) and the Embassy of Japan organized the event which attracted about 150 people among them 10 Japanese speech contestants and 3 Japanese business presenters. This year’s speech contest also had a regional outlook as there was a contestant from Tanzania.
The contest was officially opened by the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Japan to the Republic of Kenya, Mr. Yoshihiro Katayama.
Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Japan to the Republic of Kenya, Mr. Yoshihiro Katayama delivering his opening remarks
The event was sponsored by Rohto Mentholatum (Kenya) Ltd, Mitsui and Co. Europe PLC, Nippon Express, Valdivia Bio-Energized water, Japan Foundation, CASTALIA, Aviva Technologies Ltd, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Cheka Café, Cheka Japanese Restraint, HIS Kenya, Kakehashi Africa, JICA Kenya, The Nairobi Japanese School, JSPS, Bahati and ASAAVIK.
The panel of Judges for this contest was made up of senior representatives of the Japanese community in Kenya. They included, Mr. Naoki Kumagai, General Manager of Mitsui & Co. Europe Plc, Mr. Kotsuya Kuge, a Representative of the JICA Kenya Office, Mr. Atsushi Takikawa, Principal of the Japanese School in Nairobi and Ms. Monica Kahumburu, Japanese Language Lecturer from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Following the opening ceremony, the contestants took to the stage to show what they had studied and practiced to that day. While the result of the contest was discussed by the judges, Malaika Group and Vanessa Grant Girls’ School entertained the crowd with various Japanese themed performances.
One of the participants of the speech contest delivering her speech in Japanese
The panel of Judges paying keen interest to all the presentations
The final results for the 12th Japanese Speech Contest were: Ms. Sylvia Taka Masaba, winner of the Japanese speech category who made a speech on Architecture inspired by the Japanese Culture and Mr. Ochieng George, winner of the Japanese business category who made a presentation on the economic burden of ugali and sukuma wiki, Kenya’s staple food.
After the winners of the contest were announced, the event was finally declared closed by Ms. Njeri Kagema, Chairperson of JALTAK Kenya.
Students from Japanese Club of Vanessa Grant Girls’ School performing ‘Fortune Cookie by AKB48’, a Japanese pop song in entertainment
A cross section of the audience
Ms. Sylvia Taka Masaba, winner of the 12th Japanese Speech Contest receiving the first prize under the Japanese speech category from Mr. Naoki Kumagai.
Mr. Ochieng’ George, winner of the 12th Japanese Speech Contest receiving the First prize under the business presentation category from Representative of the Kakehashi Africa.
Group photo of the participants of the 12th Japanese Speech Contest
Kenya currently has about 1,100 Japanese Language students and the number is growing. Some outstanding students have been given the opportunity to participate in the Japan Foundation’s Japanese Language training program in Japan.