The 36th Annual Washington State Japanese Speech and Skit Contest
2019/4/12
On March 29, the 36th Annual Washington State Japanese Speech and Skit Contest hosted by the Hyogo Business & Cultural Center, Japan-America Society of the State of Washington, Washington Association of Teachers of Japanese, and the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle was held at Chief Sealth International High School.
The skit and speech contest is for high school students with both contests divided into 4 levels depending on the years the participant has studied Japanese. There is also a Heritage Division in the speech contest for students with a native Japanese speaker in their family.
Six teams in the skit contest and eighteen speakers for the speech contest competed against each other in this year’s contest.
In his opening remarks, Senior Consul Murazawa appreciated the sponsors, organizations and Chief Sealth International High School that helped to make this contest possible. He mentioned that Japan and the United States are important allies, sharing fundamental values, such as democracy, for decades. He also touched upon the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics hosted by Japan coming up next year and invited the audience to visit Japan because there will be more direct flights from Seattle starting this spring.
The skit competition heated up with skits filled with creativity. The winning team performed a skit about three girls fighting over a good-looking waiter. Their fluent Japanese and creative dialogue were especially remarkable.
In the speech competition, the content varied from speakers conveying what they had learned in their daily experiences to addressing opinions about politics and global issues. Participants in Level 3 and 4, who have been learning Japanese in high school for three to four years now, were asked questions after their speech. Even amidst the intense atmosphere of being on stage and being asked some tough questions, the students tried their best and answered the questions in Japanese.
Winner Della Paloy (left)
The winner of the speech contest, Della Paloy, delivered a speech about US and Japan trade. She mentioned that she would like to pursue a career in trade, hoping to be in charge of Washington State-Japan trade relations someday. Miss Paloy received a round-trip ticket to Japan and the opportunity to participate in the All USA High School Japanese Speech Contest.
 Opening remarks by Senior Consul Murazawa |
 Mascot for Hyogo “Habatan” |
The skit and speech contest is for high school students with both contests divided into 4 levels depending on the years the participant has studied Japanese. There is also a Heritage Division in the speech contest for students with a native Japanese speaker in their family.
Six teams in the skit contest and eighteen speakers for the speech contest competed against each other in this year’s contest.
In his opening remarks, Senior Consul Murazawa appreciated the sponsors, organizations and Chief Sealth International High School that helped to make this contest possible. He mentioned that Japan and the United States are important allies, sharing fundamental values, such as democracy, for decades. He also touched upon the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics hosted by Japan coming up next year and invited the audience to visit Japan because there will be more direct flights from Seattle starting this spring.
 |
 |
Scenes from the Skit Competition
The skit competition heated up with skits filled with creativity. The winning team performed a skit about three girls fighting over a good-looking waiter. Their fluent Japanese and creative dialogue were especially remarkable.
 |
 |
Scenes from the Speech Competition
In the speech competition, the content varied from speakers conveying what they had learned in their daily experiences to addressing opinions about politics and global issues. Participants in Level 3 and 4, who have been learning Japanese in high school for three to four years now, were asked questions after their speech. Even amidst the intense atmosphere of being on stage and being asked some tough questions, the students tried their best and answered the questions in Japanese.
Winner Della Paloy (left)
The winner of the speech contest, Della Paloy, delivered a speech about US and Japan trade. She mentioned that she would like to pursue a career in trade, hoping to be in charge of Washington State-Japan trade relations someday. Miss Paloy received a round-trip ticket to Japan and the opportunity to participate in the All USA High School Japanese Speech Contest.