Julie Anne Sakalys (Front third from left) © Aurora Foundation photo by Tetsuya Fukui

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Press Release

The Second Annual Aurora Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest was held on Saturday, May 28, on the campus of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) at the Hitachi Chemical Research Center.

The contest was organized by the Aurora Foundation (Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation, Dr. Akiko Agishi President & Founder,) with support from National Council of Japanese Language Teachers; Consulate General of Japan, Los Angeles.

Purpose: To offer an opportunity to American students in the U.S. who are studying the Japanese language, to present their Japanese language skills, study competitors skills, encourage other Japanese language students, and for the students to better understand Japan and its culture.

The 13 contestants who participated the event were selected from among the top finishers of regional Japanese language speech contests held around the U.S. from April 2004 until March 2005.

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 Yamaha Music Center in Irvine, and contestants, host families, and about 60 event supporters attended. The Welcome Party included introductions of the contestants, interaction and friendly exchanges among participants, as well several piano, electric piano and violin performances by students of the Yamaha Music Center. At the end of the party, everybody sang "It's a Small World" together, and by this point in the evening, the contestants were relaxed and enjoying the atmosphere.

The top three place finishers were decided by a panel of 7 judges, headed by Dr. Hiroko Kataoka, California State University, Long Beach, who listened to each contestant present his or her speech (limit to 5 minutes,) followed by a brief interview.

There judges based their decisions on the following criteria:
1. Content: which including selection of theme, originality, creativity, and ability to touch the audience's heart.
2. Structure: how well the speech is organized and how logically and smoothly the argument or the content flows.
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.
The person who receives the highest score overall is the winner, the person with the next highest score, the second place winner, and so on.

First place went to Julie Ann Sakalys of Westborough High School, Massachusetts. Miss. Sakalys received a trophy from the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, a commendation from the mayor of the city of Irvine, and a commendation Japan America Society, and a scholarship of $500 from the Aurora Foundation. Miss. Sakalys will represent the U.S.A. at the 10th International High School Japanese Language Speech Contest which will be held in Tokyo on July 23, 2005.

Second place and a scholarship of $300 went to Mr. Alexander Zook of Northside College Preparatory High, Illinois, and Third place and a scholarship of $200 went to Miss Da-In Park of Indiana Academy, Indiana. Each received a plaque, commendations from each the mayor of the city of Irvine, and Japan America Society.

As the judges deliberated in the next room, Irvine Valley College students performed a puppet show and a picture-story show of 2 famous Japanese folk stories.

Upon completion of the contest, a Goodwill Party was held at the Cross Cultural Center at UCI. Participants enjoyed several Japanese cultural events led by UCI student volunteers including kimono dressing, origami, and calligraphy. They also performed a dance to a well known traditional Japanese song, "Tankou-Bushi," (one of well known traditional Japanese song,) and everybody seemed to enjoy the event.

The Second Annual Aurora Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation
All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest
Results (Name of the winner, name of the school, State, speech title):

First place: Consul General of Japan Award (Trophy)
Julie Anne Sakalys, Westborough High School (MA)
"The Wonderful Japan I Saw"
Scholarship $500
Commendation from the mayor of city of Irvine, and a Commendation from the Japan America Society.  Will represent the U.S.A. at the 10th International High School Japanese Language Speech Contest which will be held in Tokyo on July 23, 2005.

Second place: Union Bank of California Award (Plaque)
Alexander Zook, Northside College Preparatory High School (IL)
"Nattou"
Scholarship $300
Commendation from the mayor of city of Irvine, and a Commendation from the Japan America Society

Third Place: TV JAPAN Award (Plaque)
Da-In Park, Indiana Academy (IN)
"Smiling from Heaven"
Scholarship $200
Commendation from the mayor of city of Irvine, and a Commendation from the Japan America Society

All participants received the following gifts:
Panasonic:  Voice tape recorder
UTB:  Mug cup
Takagi At House:  T-Shirt
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles:  Gagaku Calendar
Japan America Society of Southern California: a Commendation
Marukai Corporation:  Framed doll
Morinaga Nutritional Foods, Inc.:  Tofu gift bag
Union Bank of California, Irvine office:  Personal organizer & Sports bag
Each contestant who did not finish in the top three places received plaques from Lighthouse, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, and Yamaha Music Center; and gifts from All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., Japan Business Association of Southern California, Japan Airlines, Hitachi Ltd., Kinokuniya Bookstores of America and CYGOLITE.