(c) Aurora Foundation 2007 Photo by Yumi Asakura

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Press Release

The Third Annual Aurora Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest was held on Saturday, May 20, 2007.  The Aurora Foundation (Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation, Dr. Akiko Agishi President & Founder) organized the contest, with support from the National Council of Japanese Language Teachers and the Consulate General of Japan, Los Angeles. The contest was held on the campus of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) at the Hitachi Chemical Research Center.

The purpose was to offer an opportunity to American students in the United States, who are studying the Japanese language, to present their Japanese language skills, study competitors’ skills, encourage other Japanese language students, and most importantly to better understand Japan and its culture.

The sixteen finalists who participated in the event were selected from among the top finishers of regional Japanese language speech contests held around the United States from April 2006 through April 2007.

Contestants who traveled to Southern California for the contest from distant locations were housed with Japanese families residing in Orange County.

The evening before the contest, a welcome party was held at the Takagi-USA facility in Irvine for contestants, host families, and about sixty event supporters. The welcome party included introductions of the contestants, interaction and friendly exchanges among participants, as well as a Tsugaru Shamisen.

For the contest, each speech was limited to five minutes, followed by a brief interview. The top three place finishers were decided by a panel of seven judges, headed by Dr. Hiroko Kataoka, California State University, Long Beach.

The judges based their decisions on the following criteria:
1. Content: including selection of theme, originality, creativity, and ability to touch the audience’s heart.
2. Structure: how well the speech was organized and how logically and smoothly the argument or the
content flowed.
3. Japanese language ability: especially appropriate use of sentence structure and vocabulary, and accuracy
of pronunciation and accent-or comprehensibility.
4. Over-all impression: including attitude, posture; voice audibility; connection with the audience, including
eye contact; and, fluency
5. Interview responses with clear and appropriate answers.

First place went to Jesse Bias of West Bloomfield High School, West Bloomfield, Michigan. Jesse received a trophy and a plaque from the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles; commendations from the Mayor of the city of Irvine, and the Japan America Society of Southern California; and a scholarship of $500 from the Aurora Foundation. His speech was entitled the “The Events of My Shining First Day Studying Abroad in Japan”. Jesse will represent the U.S.A. at the 12th Japanese Speech Award (International High School Japanese Language Speech Contest) which will be held in Tokyo on July 22, 2007.

Second place and a scholarship of $300 went to Lukas Bonick of North Salinas High School, Salinas, California, and third place and a scholarship of $200 went to William Lovotti of The Taft School, Watertown, Connecticut. Each received a plaque, commendations from the Mayor of the city of Irvine and the Japan America Society of Southern California.

The Special Audience Award, decided by audience vote, went to Summer Lovex. The VIP Award went to Olivia C. Montgomery and The Special Award went to Gi Bun Kang.

Press Release Date: June 1, 2007
Contact info:
Aurora Japanese Language
Scholarship Foundation
Tel: 323.882.6545
Fax: 323.969.9425

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The Fourth Annual Aurora Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation
All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest
Result (Name of the winners, Name of the school, State, Speech title):

First place: Consulate General of Japan Award
Jesse Bias, West Bloomfield High School, West Bloomfield, MI
” The Events of My Shining First Day Studying Abroad in Japan”
Trophy from Consulate General of Japan, Scholarship from Aurora Foundation: $500, Commendations from the Mayor of city of Irvine
Will represent the U.S.A. at the 12th International High School Japanese Language Speech Contest which will be held in Tokyo on July 22, 2007.
CLICK HERE to see video of Jesse's speech

Second place: American Airlines Award
Lukas Bonick, North Salinas High School, Salinas, CA
”The Person Who Inspires Me Most”
Plaque from American Airlines, Scholarship from Aurora Foundation: $300, Commendations from the Mayor of city of Irvine
CLICK HERE to see video of Lucas' speech!

Third place: Union Bank of California Award
William Lovotti, The Taft School, Watertown, CT
”My Feeling about Japan and America”
Plaque from Union Bank of California, Scholarship from Aurora Foundation: $200, Commendations from the Mayor of city of Irvine
CLICK HERE to see video of  William's speech!

Special Audience Award: Yamaha Music Center Award
Summer Lovex, Puyallup High School, Puyallup, WA
“Japan’s Flavor”
Plaque from Yamaha Music Center
CLICK HERE to see video of Summer's speech!

VIP Award: Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California Award
Olivia C. Montgomery, Noble and Greenough School, Dedham, MA
“Laughing Crows”
Plaque from Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California
click here to see video of Olivia's speech!

Special Award: Lighthouse Award
Gi Bum Kang, Silverado High School, Las Vegas, NV
“America’s Problem”
Plaque from Lighthouse
click here to see video of Gi Bum Kang's speech!

Also Participated:

Hunter Nixon   VIDEO
Jonathan Emberton   VIDEO
Stephanie Raymundo   VIDEO
Kenay Sudler   VIDEO
Raisa Santiago   VIDEO
Joey Madsen   VIDEO
Martha Syryca   VIDEO
Irene Lan Wang   VIDEO
Derek Schlieps   VIDEO
Bianca Park   VIDEO

All of the contestants received commendations from Aurora Foundation and Japan America Society of Southern California. Plaques were generously designed and donated by Mario & Karen Ontiveros.
The following gifts from sponsors and
contributors are donated for the contestants:

American Airlines: Name Tag for bag
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles: Paperback Japanese-English Dictionary- 1st Prize, Electronic Dictionary- VIP and Special Award winners, Paper Holders- 16 contestants, Kanji Practice Pads- 16 contestants
Japan National Tourist Organization: Japanese Fan- 16 contestants, Book ”JAPAN NOW” - 16 contestants
Panasonic: IC recorder- 16 contestants
Panasonic Battery Corporation of America: Battery- 16 contestants
Marukai Corporation: Sweets- 16 contestants
Morinaga Nutritional Foods, Inc.: Flavored Tofu (Japanese Miso)- 16 contestants
Yuma Asakura: DVD[The 11th Japanese Speech Award in Japan]
Anonymous: Electronic Dictionary- Special Audience Award winner