On 4 March 2017, the 15th Japanese Speech Contest in Ireland will be held between 12.00pm and 5.30pm at the FitzGerald Debating Chamber, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4. Co-organised by the Japanese Language Teachers of Ireland (JLTI) and the Embassy of Japan in Ireland, and supported by the Japan Foundation and other organisations.

This year, 12 participants in the Secondary School Category (TY & LC1 Group), 6 in the Secondary School Category (LC2 Group) and 7 in the General Category will enjoy speaking about Japan and the things that interest them. The participants will be judged on the basis of the content, expression and grammar of their speeches and a Q&A session with the judges. The prize for the winner is a return ticket to Japan, funded by the Japan Business Society in Ireland.

To mark the 15th anniversary of the contest and the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland the city of Matsue, where the best known Irish man in Japan, Lafcadio Hearn, lived for a number of years, will host and partially fund two winners from among the secondary school contestants for a return trip to Matsue where they will stay with a Japanese family and experience Japanese culture. In addition, for the first time, several Japanese winners of the 50th Youth Recitation Contest in Honor of Lafacadio Hearn, which is held in Matsue every year, will make a special presentation at The 15th Japanese Speech Contest.

In addition to the Speech Contest, the audience members will be treated to a Rokyoku performance by Ms Keiko Haruno. Rokyoku is a genre of narrative singing accompanied by a shamisen, and is one of the iconic styles of the Japanese traditional art of storytelling. Ms Haruno will follow her performance at the Speech Contest with a full concert, including an introduction to rokyoku, two pieces to be performed and the possibility to talk to the artist the following Sunday at 1.00pm in the Aula Maxima in University College Cork.

The Embassy of Japan will also have an information desk at the Speech Contest providing information on visiting, studying, working and living in Japan. The Embassy will also host a short reception with refreshments for participants at the end of the Speech Contest.

As part of the celebrations of the 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Ireland, which will continue throughout 2017, Mrs Mari Miyoshi, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland will present her commendation to the JLTI in recognition of their contribution to Japanese language education in Ireland in the past 17 years. Dr Keiko Inoue, Chairperson of the JLTI, will accept the commendation on behalf of the group.

Ambassador Miyoshi said, “I hope that through learning Japanese students deepen their understanding of Japan and the facets and charms it has culturally, technologically and economically”, and continued “2017 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland. In 2019, Japan will host the Rugby World Cup and, in 2020, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will take place. I hope a lot of Irish people will take these large international events as an opportunity to visit, see and experience Japan”.

Dr Inoue said, “It is our honour to hold the Speech Contest as a part of commemorating events. The JLTI would like to express our deep gratitude to our sponsors for their continuous support and generosity without which the Speech Contest cannot be held in the current form.” She continued “We also would like to congratulate efforts and dedication made by the contestants and their teachers. We hope this contest can provide an opportunity to further friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries.”

According to the latest Survey on Japanese-Language Education Abroad 2015 conducted by the Japan Foundation, 3,213 Irish people study Japanese, which is an increase of 14% from the previous survey conducted in 2012. These students are mainly found in around 40 secondary schools and five third level institutions throughout Ireland.

The contest started in 2003 and is organised by the JLTI. This year’s contest is the 15th organised by the JLTI, and the fourth to be co-organised by the Embassy of Japan. Every year, about 30 contestants take part in the contest which attracts an audience of around 200 people.

See Event Timetable and Map here!

The year 2017 will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland. As part of the preparations for this year of friendship, a public competition was held to select the official anniversary logo. 

Selected out of the 548 entries submitted, the winning design was created by Mr Peter McBride, a graphic designer and photographer who lives in Dublin. The “Harp-Sun” logo symbolises Japan (Sun) and Ireland (Harp) in equal harmony, united to represent solidarity. The Sakura growing beautifully between the shamrocks on the pillar of the harp represents the Irish welcome of the growth of Japanese culture. Likewise, the Irish harp leaning confidently against the Sun represents the strong support shown by Japan towards Ireland. Mr McBride will be awarded an economy class return air ticket between Dublin and Tokyo (in either direction) by the London Office of Japan Airlines (JAL), in association with the Embassy of Ireland in Japan.

Mr McBride said, “I’m excited and very happy that my logo has been chosen to celebrate this special anniversary. I’ve always had an interest in Eastern cultures but I’ve never had an opportunity to visit Japan. I’m very much looking forward to visiting Japan, taking lots of photographs and learning more about Japanese culture.”

The members of the selection panel were Mrs Mari Miyoshi, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland, Ms Anne Barrington, Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, representatives of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and two external experts (from Japan and Ireland).

The logo will be used throughout 2017 in all communication regarding activities associated with the anniversary. Officially recognised events will be entitled to use the official title “Commemorative event of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland” and the logo in all publicity materials.

Mrs Mari Miyoshi, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland, commented, “Thank you all very much for submitting so many applications. The 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Japan is an important turning point for both countries (known as Kanreki in Japan, 60th birthdays mark the end of the traditional 60-year calendar cycle and a return to the year of your birth).  I’m sure the competition has raised awareness of the upcoming anniversary among Irish people”, and continued, “We hope a lot of people will use the logo, applying for event endorsement throughout 2017.”

Ms Anne Barrington, Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, echoed these sentiments, “It was really wonderful to see the enormous interest in this competition in Japan and in Ireland.  The 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two great countries will mark the beginning of a new chapter of ever closer relations between us.  The winning logo will help us to set the tone for the next 60 years.”

A series of events is being planned to commemorate this milestone, as well as to deepen the existing positive relationship between the two countries.

Further information about the 60th anniversary as well as the commemorative event endorsement procedure, is now available on the dedicated webpage of the Embassy’s website: http://www.ie.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000326.html, and on the website of the Embassy of Ireland in Japan: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/japan/.

To stay updated with the latest information on the 60th anniversary events, please follow us on the Embassy of Japan’s newly launched Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Embassy-of-Japan-in-Ireland-1766905626925233/.