San Diego Japanese Speech Contest 2022
4/1/2015
The 18th Annual San Diego Japanese Speech Contest
http://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/web/news_info_SD_speech2015.htm

Contact: Fumiko Tachibana

email: sdjscc@gmail.com

San Diego Japanese Speech Contest Committee

P. O. Box 28884, San Diego, CA 92198

On March 22, 2015, the 18^th annual Regional San Diego Japanese Speech Contest was hosted by the Carlsbad Public Library.

This event serves to help local high school students, community college and university students to deepen their understanding of Japan and its culture through the study of the Japanese language. By offering this speech contest, it allows fellow students to demonstrate their proficiency in the language in a friendly and competitive environment.

As the students’ classmates, friends, families and teachers filled the auditorium to the brim, the air was electrically charged as the audience waited for each contestant to take their turn. As each student finished their speech, displaying the fruits of weeks of practice, the audience responded with great applause in recognition of their efforts.

The speech contest welcomed as guest judges the esteemed Consul from the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, Mr. Takehiko Wajima, Los Angeles's Notre Dame high school teacher, Ms. Kyoko Shoji, and as the head judge, UCSD Professor Dr. Eiko Ushida.

While the judges deliberated, the contestants and audience were treated to a very special presentation. The Kimono Rental Yuko, a local business and in conjunction with the San Diego Japanese Kimono Club, delivered a gorgeously choreographed presentation displaying Japanese wedding attire and the various styles of traditional Japanese dress.

After the judges' careful deliberation, the winner for the college section was Palomar student Leon Villarpando and high school section was Torrey Pines High School student Michael Lin. These exemplary individuals were rewarded the Japanese Consulate General's First Place Award and Japanese Consulate General's Special Award respectively. Additionally, UCSD’s Anthony O’Donnell was awarded the Best Effort award for his speech entitled "My Life", which he delivered through the use of sign language. This was a first for the Speech Contest and the judges welcomed it whole-heartedly as another way of expressing oneself in Japanese. As a way to encourage the further pursuit in the Japanese language, the winner of this year's college portion of the contest has been awarded a trip to Japan where he will be a part of a pre-arranged homestay program.

The top three finalists from the high school portion of the competition are now qualified to apply for the Aurora Foundation's All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest. The winner of the All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest will be awarded an all-expenses-paid two week trip to Japan as part of a cultural exchange program.

The finalists for the contest are as follows:

College Section:

1st Place --- Leon Villarpando (Palomar College)

2nd Place --- Christian Pham (Mesa College)

3rd Place --- Kaylee Carothers (Palomar College)

High School Section:

1st Place --- Michael Lin (Torrey Pines High School)

2nd Place --- Kiana Arian (Canyon Crest Academy)

3rd Place --- Jack Glen (Canyon Crest Academy)

For your information: In order to compete in the San Diego Japanese Speech Contest, anyone who is enrolled in high school, college or university is eligible to compete.

The San Diego Japanese Speech Contest took place at the Carlsbad Public Library shown here

The contest’s two emcees for this year were 2014 finalist Megan (left) and 2009 contestant Tyson (right)

A commemorative photo with all of the participants in the contest

Anthony O’Donnell, a UCSD student who presented his speech through sign language

A “kimono show” presented by Kimono Rental Yuko and the San Diego Kimono Club

More result in Japanese

the gift supporters list:

https://sites.google.com/site/sdjsc2015/5-sponsors

The program of the event:

https://sites.google.com/site/sdjsc2015/o_a-program

2. Kameron & Amanda

Here is happy news of the wedding of Kameron (2nd place winner from 2009 who spoke about "Man's Soul") and Amanda (Creative Award winner from 2010 who spoke about “The World of Salsa”). Both of Amanda and Kameron are current JET teachers in Kumamoto, Kyushu. (as of 2015, their second year).

We will be so happy to hear from you!

3. If you are the past contestant, and have some exciting news to share,

please write to us at sdjscc@gmail.com (San Diego Japanese Speech Contest Committee).

Hosts:

North Park Lion's Club,

Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles,

San Diego Japanese Speech Contest Committee