The 13th Japanese Speech Contest

2021/3/13
On 13th March 2021, H.E. Ambassador Ryoichi Horie attended the 13th Japanese speech contest that was held online due to the COVID-19 situation.
 
The Ambassador recognised that the contest has been going steadily on for over 12 years. The Ambassador highlighted the importance of learning culture which underpins the language and introduced a Japanese phrase 和敬清寂, the direct meaning of which in English is harmony, respect, purity and tranquility, as important Japanese concepts that are prominent in Japanese tea ceremony and held dearly in Japanese people's hearts.
 
Many Kenyans have been able to travel to Japan to live and study through Japan funded scholarships. Ambassador gave examples of beneficiaries of the scholarship who are now working with Japanese people in Kenya to teach Japanese language and assist diplomatic work.
 
Ambassador Horie ended his speech by encouraging the participants by saying that their continual study of Japanese will eventually become a great asset in their contribution to the relationship between Japan and Kenya in many different ways.