2022 Houston Regional Japanese Language Speech Contest

The 2022 Houston Regional Japanese Language Speech Contest has concluded.

Thirty-two (32) contestants demonstrated their Japanese skills in the areas of (i) POETRY RECITATION, (ii) HAIKU, (iii) FREE SPEECH AURORA, and (iv) FREE SPEECH COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY.

"Otsukaresama" to all contest participants! We congratulate you for your hard work and commitment to learning Japanese. You demonstrate that Houston Japanese Language Learners #LeadWithLanguages!


Meet the winners of the 2022 Houston Regional Japanese Language Speech Contest!

Winners are listed below by category. 

Those placing in the top two in each division will move on to compete in the TEXAS STATE JAPANESE LANGUAGE SPEECH CONTEST, which will be held virtually on March 12, 2022.


DIVISION 1 - POETRY

1.       Jerry ZHANG – 9th, William P. Clements High School

2.       Qianyue LUO – 10th, William P. Clements High School

3.       Muyao JIANG – 9th, Bellaire High School


DIVISION 2 - HAIKU

1.       Yue LU – 11th, William P. Clements High School

2.       Emma WANG – 10th, William P. Clements High School

3.       Alexander FLORES – 10th, St. Francis Episcopal School


DIVISION 3 - FREE SPEECH HIGH SCHOOL AURORA

1.       Sarah VU – What I Regret the Most – 11th, William P. Clements High School

2.       Hayagreev JAYARAM – Similarities between Indian and Japanese Cultures – 12th, Bellaire High School

3.       Tran NGUYEN – Karoshi and Corona – 12th, William P. Clements High School


DIVISION 4 - FREE SPEECH COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

1.       Angela LIU – A Reflection on the Pandemic – Senior, Rice University

2.      Vanessa HUYNH– Japanese Club – Sophomore, University of Houston

3.      Hoang NGUYEN– My High School's Unique "Club Culture" – Sophomore, Rice University


Contest winners will receive the following prizes courtesy of KINOKUNIYA BOOKSTORE KATY:

DIVISIONS I & II: POETRY and HAIKU (Beginner & Intermediate)

  • 1st place: $25 gift card

  • 2nd Place: $15 gift card

  • 3rd Place: $10 gift card

DIVISIONS III & IV: FREE SPEECH High School and University

  • 1st place: $50 gift card

  • 2nd Place: $25 gift card

  • 3rd Place: $15 gift card


SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:


SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR JUDGES:

  • Aki NOMI - Instructor, JASH Japanese Language Program

  • Hiroko SATO - Board Member, JASH

  • Kazuyuki TAKAHASHI - Consul, Consulate-General of Japan in Houston


SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPATING JAPANESE LANGUAGE TEACHERS IN HOUSTON:

  • Jing LIU

  • Adrian MCINTOSH

  • Natalie PETTINGILL

  • Yoshimi SHERIDAN

  • Satoko SHOU

  • Hiromi TAKAYAMA

  • Yuki WAUGH