Embedded Files
Results
HS Division
Level 1
1st: Udayan Goyal, Woodinville HS 「全力で生きる」
2nd: Jonathan Chan, King's HS 「私の趣味」
3rd: Sofia Carrillo, Redmond HS 「私の旅行」
Level 2
1st: Jennifer Lee, Curtis Senior HS 「ベトナムのテト」
2nd: Grace Gilbert, King's HS 「私の日本文化」
3rd: Finn Hill, Woodinville HS 「マージャン」
Level 3 & 4
1st: Jerry Xu, Woodinville HS 「日本の左側通行の習慣」
2nd: Luna Burk, Curtis Senior HS 「学校の違いから学ぶことの大切さ」
3rd: Elizaveta Shvets, Curtis Senior HS 「SNSの嘘」
Heritage Level
1st: Aika Yanagimoto, Bothell HS 「なんでもやってみる大事さ」
2nd: May Erickson, Lincoln HS 「編み物」
3rd: Momoka Okamoto, Woodinville HS 「母のことば」
College Division
Level 1
1st: Calina Lin, Central Washington Univ 「私の文化」
2nd: Janelle Showalter, Central Washington Univ 「普段の一日」
3rd: Dominic Showalter, Central Washington Univ 「私の１日」
Level 2
1st: Ayslin Constable, Univ of Washington 「私の未来の学生の手紙」
2nd: Sitian Li, Univ of Washington 「私の外国語の勉強」
3rd: Sharon Juge, Univ of Washington 「ペットを飼うこと」
Level 3
1st: Allyson Martires, Univ of Washington 「幸せ」
2nd: Maelyn Plessas, Univ of Washington 「難しくてもあきらめないで！」
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Saturday, April 12, 2025
The 42nd Annual Washington State Japanese Speech Contest, hosted by WATJ, had another successful year! As with last year, the contest was organized entirely by WATJ members who volunteered their time to secure sponsors, advise students, attend planning meetings, and serve as judges.
The award ceremony took place on the Fisher Pavilion Stage during the 50th Annual Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival, organized by the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival Committee at the Seattle Center. The 1st place winners in each high school and college division presented their speeches on stage, with Sam Kuyper sensei serving as MC.
Prizes for all participants were generously provided by Kinokuniya, the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington (JCCCW), Temple University Japan Campus, and the Japan Foundation. All participants received goods from the Japan Foundation and Temple University Japan Campus. Winners received plaques from the Japan America Society of the State of Washington and gift certificates from Kinokuniya Bookstore, along with beautifully designed award certificates created by Hiromi Pingry sensei. High School and College Division winners were awarded first-place plaques and gift certificates provided by our incredible sponsors: Temple University, the East Asia Center at UW, the Japan America Society of the State of Washington, and the Hyogo Business and Culture Center (HBCC).
Special prizes: $150 Delta Airlines gift cards were provided for the High School Division Level 3/4 and College Level 3 winners, sponsored by IACE Travel.
Special thanks to our WATJ Speech Contest Committee members: Chikako Misener sensei, Hiromi Pingry sensei, Haruka Fujiwara sensei, Mizue Sunahara sensei, Akiko Iwata sensei, Kari Denton sensei, Sam Kuyper, and Melissa Urushidani sensei for helping to make this year’s event a success. We also want to sincerely thank our judges (Mr. Takahisa Ikegami, Hiromi Pingry sensei, Kayo Niimi sensei, Ms. Jamie Cheng, and Ms. Naoko Magasis) for their time and thoughtful feedback, as well as all the WATJ teachers whose dedication allowed us to enjoy such excellent student speeches.
Photos from this year's contest can be seen here.
We hope to see your students participate again in next year’s contest!
Speech Contest Chair Sam Kuyper
Sponsors
Google Sites
Report abuse