Hosted by Christian House English
1st Japanese Speech Contest
Date Saturday, August 8th, 2026 10:00 Japanese Speech Contest
13:00 English Speech Contest
Entry period June 1st to July 25th, 2026
Higashikurume, Tokyo
All levels welcome to participate!
Express your opinions and thoughts freely in Japanese
Application Guidelines
Date: Saturday, August 8th, 2026
Application period: June1st - July 25th, 2026
Venue: Green Hall at Seibi Education and Culture Center
Address: 8-14, Higashi Hon-cho, Higashikurume-shi, Tokyo
Nearest Station: Higashikurume Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line
Eligibility for participation:
Nationality is not a requirement.
Person aged 18 and over and learning Japanese as the second language.
Speech must be delivered in Japanese.
Topic of a speech is the own choosing.
Speech must last between 5 minutes to 7 minutes.
Important Notes Regarding Photo and Video Recording
You can film your own speech using a tripods. Please refrain from posting photos or videos of other participants on social media without their consent.
Evaluation Criteria
1. Content and Structure / Score 50
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The message to be conveyed is clear.
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The speech structure is appropriate.
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Efforts have been made to engage the audience.
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※ Speeches must be original works. If found to be non-original, they will be disqualified from judging.
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※ Speeches deemed inappropriate, such as those containing extremely biased views or defamatory content targeting specific groups, will not be permitted.
2. Vocabulary and Grammar / Score 30
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Appropriate Japanese Grammar is used.
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Proper Japanese phrases and expressions are used.
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The speaker uses correct pronunciation and accent.
3. Presentation Skills / Score 20
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Maintains eye contact and delivers the presentation with expressive delivery.
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Presents at an appropriate volume and pace that reaches the judges.
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Uses the podium and microphone, maintaining an attitude befitting a presenter.
Total score 100
※Evaluation scores of the participants will not be disclosed.
Awards
First Prize
This award is given to honor the achievement of the participant judged to have delivered the most outstanding speech, achieving the highest score in all judging categories.
Second Place
This award is given to the participant who achieved the second-highest score in the judging categories, in recognition of his/her achievement.
Third Place
This award is given to the participant who achieved the third-highest score in the judging categories, in recognition of his/her achievement.
*If no participant is deemed to meet the award criteria, the award may be declared void.
Steps to be completed by July 25th, 2026
Step 1:
Submit the entry form.
※ The organizer will send you a confirmation email.
Step 2:
Make a payment of the participation fee (¥3,500) to the designated bank account.
※ Once paid, participation fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.
Step 3:
Submit your speech manuscript to the organizer in Word or PDF format. (Please include the speech title.)
FAQ
Q. Do I have to memorize the entire speech?
A. It is preferable to memorize your speech. However, you are free to bring notes onto the stage. Please make an effort to maintain eye contact with the audience.
Q. What kind of speeches will the other contestants give?
A. The topics are varied. We would like you to present your own thoughts on the theme you have freely chosen.
Q. Please tell me about the venue.
A. It is the Green Hall at the Seibi Education and Culture Center (capacity: 304 people). The nearest station is Higashi-Kurume Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, a 4-minute walk away. Paid parking is available. There are no restaurants or cafes inside the hall. Admission is free for spectators, and all seats are unreserved.