Contest Format
The contest has 4 categories each with its prizes.  The categories are:
Secondary School
Junior College
Tertiary School
Open (non-students)

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded in each category as follows:

  • Secondary School Category
  • Winner         : Japanese Chamber of Commence & Industry President’s Cup and attractive prize
  • Runners-up  : Electrical appliances
  • Junior College Category
  • Winner          : The Japanese Association, Singapore President’s Cup and attractive prize
  • Runners-up   : Electrical appliances
  • Singaporean participant who obtains the highest position in this category will be invited and sponsored to represent Singapore in the International Speech Contest to be held on 22 July 2012 (tentative) in Japan, which is part of “ The Cross-Cultural Experience Program “.
  • Tertiary School Category
  • Winner          : Japanese Cultural Society President’s Cup, Homestay in Japan with return air tickets and attractive prize
  • Runners-up   : Electrical appliances
  • Open Category (non-students)
  • Winner          : The Japanese Ambassador’s Cup, Homestay in Japan with  return air tickets and attractive prize
  • Runners-up   : Electrical appliances

In addition, all semi-finalists will receive a commemorative gift.

Background of Contest

This contest aims to encourage Japanese language learners to strive for greater excellence and to enhance the understanding and relationship between Singapore and Japan.　The initial format for the contest was developed by the Japanese Cultural Society in 1968 and only included the Adult category.  The dramatic increase in the number of students learning Japanese as a 3rd language prompted the Japanese Association to organize a Students’ Eloquence Contest in 1995. The two contests were combined in 1996 to form the Japanese Speech Contest.  This combined format has been retained for this year’s contest.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible to enter the contest, applicants must satisfy the following requirements: 

  • Neither of the contestant’s parent must be a native Japanese.
  • The contestant’s first language or mother tongue must not be Japanese.
  • Contestants must be Singaporean, PR or student pass holder in Singapore.
  • For Secondary, Junior College and Tertiary categories – Contestants must not have resided in Japan for more than 12 months (excluding stay in Japan before primary school); For Open category – Contestants must not have resided in Japan for more than 24 months (excluding stay in Japan before primary school).
  • Contestants who have previously won first prize in any category in this contest are not eligible to enter the contest in the same category again.
  • Contestants under the age of 18 must seek parental/guardian’s consent

There are three phases to the contest: preliminary, semi-final and final.
In the preliminary round, participant has to submit an ORIGINAL manuscript. Participants can choose any topic but it has to be an original manuscript.  The manuscript should be equivalent to approximately 5 minutes duration in speech (4 minutes in the case of secondary school category).   The contest judges will select a maximum of 20 semi-finalists from each category. All semi-finalists are required to submit a recorded speech [CD / digital audio file (mp3 or wma format)]. 6 finalists will be selected to enter the Final. The finalists will present their manuscript at the Final held at the Auditorium of the Japanese Association, Singapore. 

Completed entry form, original manuscript and recorded speech are to be sent to:
Japanese Speech Contest 2012 Organizing Committee
c/o The Japanese Association, Singapore
120 Adam Road Singapore 289899
E-mail: japspeechcontest@jas.org.sg

Date & Time
15 July 2012 (Sunday) 10:00am-3:00pm
Venue

Auditorium (3F) of The Japanese Association, Singapore
120 Adam Road, Singapore 289899

Free admission and seating Open to the public
Application
Application form can be obtained from the organizer's office or downloaded from the website. Click here to download application form.
Closing Date for Entries
16 May 2012 （Wed）
Tuition
The Japanese Speech Contest 2012 Organizing Committee offers free tuition to semi-finalists from Secondary School and Junior College. Participants who wish to receive tuition must indicate the request for arrangement of tutors on the application form.
Important
Dates

Closing date for application
(Submission of manuscript)
16th May (Wed)
Notification to semi-finalists
25th May (Fri)
Closing date for submission of
recorded speech (for semi-finalists) 
13th June (Wed)
Notification to finalists
22nd June (Fri)

Final contest at the Auditorium of
The Japanese Association, Singapore (10.00am – 3.00pm)
15th July (Sun)
Information & Enquiries

Further information can be obtained from:
Ms. Michi Zhao  c/o The Japanese Association, Singapore
Tel:64680066 Ext：4204　e-mail: japspeechcontest@jas.org.sg
Organizers
主催

Embassy of Japan
在シンガポール日本国大使館

The Japanese Cultural Society, Singapore
シンガポール日本文化協会

The Japanese Association, Singapore
シンガポール日本人会

Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore
シンガポール日本商工会議所

The Japanese University Graduates Association of Singapore
シンガポール留日大学卒業生協会
Supporters
後援

Japan Foundation
国際交流基金

The Japanese School, Singapore
シンガポール日本人学校

Japanese Speech Award
日本語スピーチアウォード

National University of Singapore, Centre for Language Studies
シンガポール国立大学　語学教育研究センター

Ministry of Education, Language Centre
シンガポール教育省　語学センター

Japanese Language Teachers' Association in Singapore
シンガポール日本語教師の会
Sponsors
協賛

Hitachi Asia
日立アジア

All Nippon Airways
全日本

Canon Singapore Pte Ltd
キヤノンシンガポール

Mitsubishi Electric Asia
三菱電機アジア

Meidi-Ya Singapore
明治屋シンガポール

Yusen Logistics (Singapore)  Pte Ltd
郵船ロジスティックスシンガポール

Isetan Singapore
伊勢丹シンガポール

Shizuoka Prefectural Government
静岡県