2023 Houston Regional Japanese Language Speech Contest

Japan-America Society of Houston ·

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