On October 19, Okayama University held the 6th Okayama Cup Japanese Speech Contest at Dalian University of Technology in Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China.

With the cooperation of SixERS(Six National Universities International Education and Research System), the Consulate-General of Japan in Shenyang, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Beijing Representative Office, Okayama University hosts this contest for the purpose of supporting students learning Japanese at universities in three provinces in northeast China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning) and strengthening partnerships between universities in Japan and China. On the day of the event, student volunteers from Dalian University of Technology supported the operation. The event was also attended by Director Cong Fengyu of the International Office at Dalian University of Technology, and other guests.

The main themes for the contest were “Japanese culture that I would like to introduce into China” and “What I have learned by studying Japanese.” The contest was entered into by 29 students from 13 universities, with a total of 10 students who passed an initial documentary screening making a speech in front of nearly 200 audience members.

The contest judges were Dr. KIMURA Kunio, Vice President for International Affairs; Mr. OKUMA Masaaki, Vice Consular at the Consular Office of Japan in Dalian, Consulate-General of Japan in Shenyang; and faculty from each of the SixERS universities (Chiba University, Niigata University, Kanazawa University, Okayama University, Nagasaki University, Kumamoto University). Following a strict examination by the judges, the first prize was awarded to Ms. Han Xinru from Dalian University of Foreign Languages, and the second prize to Ms. Tang Ruona from Dalian University of Technology. The two prizewinners were also awarded a five-day study trip to Okayama University. As a special prize, the Consul General Prize from the Consulate-General of Japan in Shenyang was granted to Ms. Tian Dongping from Northeast Normal University, who received a testimonial and a supplementary prize from Vice Consular Okuma.
Based on the over 30-year history of interaction with universities in the northeastern area of China, we will continue to promote academic interaction between such universities and the six member universities, thereby fostering human resources who can serve as a bridge for friendship between Japan and China.