The 2023 Houston Regional Japanese Language Speech Contest has concluded.
Twenty-eight (28) contestants gathered at University of St. Thomas to demonstrate 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 2023 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 at Rice University on March 11, 2023.
DIVISION 1 - POETRY
1. Ziyi ZHAO – 9th, William P. Clements High School
2. Kim DOMENC – 9th, William P. Clements High School
3. Kevin RAMIREZ – 10th, Morton Ranch High School
DIVISION 2 - HAIKU
1. Qianyue LUO – 11th, William P. Clements High School
2. Zafir KHAN – 10th, William P. Clements High School
3. Jerry ZHANG – 10th, William P. Clements High School
DIVISION 3 - FREE SPEECH HIGH SCHOOL AURORA
1. Dylan MITCHELL – Technology’s Influence – 12th, William P. Clements High School
2. Muyao JIANG – My Opinion to Chinese Education System – 10th, Bellaire High School
3. Zacharia HUSAIN – Foreigners in Japan – 11th, William P. Clements High School
DIVISION 4 - FREE SPEECH COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
1. Connor BEZIO – "Outer Wilds" and the Fear of Death – Junior, Rice University
2. Ryan PARK– My Experience Getting Bullied in Middle School – Freshman, Rice University
3. Jackson BANNISTER – A Quick Trip to Japan – Junior, University of Houston
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
Contest winners will receive the following prizes courtesy of JASH & KINOKUNIYA BOOKSTORE KATY:
DIVISIONS III & IV: FREE SPEECH High School and University
1st place: Nintendo Switch
2nd Place: $25 gift card
3rd Place: $15 gift card
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS:
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR JUDGES:
Ritsuko HAGIO - Volunteer, JASH
Ruriko KINOSHITA - Showing Japan
Aki NOMI - Instructor, JASH Japanese Language Program
Hiroko SATO - Board Member, JASH
Kazuyuki TAKAHASHI - Consul, Consulate-General of Japan in Houston
Hiromi TAKAYAMA - Instructor, Rice University
Midori UKITA - Instructor, JASH Japanese Language Program
Yuko YAMADA - Instructor, JASH Japanese Language Program
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPATING JAPANESE LANGUAGE TEACHERS IN HOUSTON:
Tomoko BAKER
Jing LIU
Yoshimi SHERIDAN
Satoko SHOU
Hiromi TAKAYAMA
Midori UKITA
Yuki WAUGH