(c) Aurora Foundation 2006 Photo by Tetsuya Fukui

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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, 2006.  The contest was organized by the Aurora Foundation (Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation, Dr. Akiko Agishi / President & Founder,) 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f skills, encourage other Japanese language students, and most importantly to better understand Japan and its culture.

The fifteen contestants 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 2005 through April 2006.

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 Ninja performance.

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 six 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fs 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 Lauren Burkhart of the College Preparatory School, Kensington, California. Lauren 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.  Her speech was entitled the "Magic of Spaciousness" found in Japan. Lauren will represent the U.S.A. at the 11th Japanese Speech Award (International High School Japanese Language Speech Contest) which will be held in Tokyo on July 23, 2006.

Second place and a scholarship of $300 went to Daniel Cruse of Ulysses Simpson Grant High School, Oregon, and third place and a scholarship of $200 went to Richard Edele of Townsend Harris High School, Woodhaven, New York. Each received a plaque, commendations from the Mayor of the city of Irvine and the Japan America Society of Southern California.

The Special Audience Prize, decided by audience vote was added this year. The winner was Bryan Bosler of Troy High School, Troy, Michigan, who received a prize of a Hunting World calendar book donated by Mr. Kuniaki Seto of the Japan Business Association of Southern California.

As the judges deliberated in the other room, the students enjoyed listening to Tsugaru Shamisen performed by Tadashi Tsuda.

Press Release Date: May 30, 2006
Contact info:
Aurora Japanese Language
Scholarship Foundation
Tel: 323.882.6545
Fax: 323.969.9425

First place: Consulate General of Japan Award (Trophy & Plaque)
Lauren Burkhart, The College Preparatory School (CA)
”The Magic of Spaciousness”
Scholarship: $500
Commendations from the Mayor of city of Irvine, Japan America Society of Southern California. Will
represent the U.S.A. at the 11th International High School Japanese Language Speech Contest which will be
held in Tokyo on July 23, 2006.

Second place: Union Bank of California Award (Plaque)
Daniel Cruse, Ulysses Simpson Grant High School (OR)
”Japanese and American Life in US-Japan Relations”
Scholarship: $300
Commendations from the Mayor of city of Irvine, Japan America Society of Southern California

Third Place: Hitachi Ltd. Award (Plaque)
Richard Edele, Townsend Harris High School (NY)
”Thinking About the Universe”
Scholarship: $200
Commendations from the Mayor of city of Irvine, Japan America Society of Southern California

Special Audience Prize (decided by an audience vote) Japanese American Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (Plaque)
Bryan Bosler, Troy High School (MI)
“Instant Music”
A prize of a Hunting World calendar book donated by Mr. Kuniaki Seto of the Japan Business Association of Southern California.

Plaques were generously designed and donated by Mario & Karen Ontiveros, and other plaques were provided by Aratani Foundation, Stanley Electric Sales of America, Inc., Littlet, Lighthouse, Shinta & Toshiko Asami, Yokoyama Foundation and Yamaha Music Center.

The following gifts from sponsors and contributors are donated for the contestants:
Electronic Dictionary: top three winners. paper holders: 15 contestants. chop sticks: 15 contestants (The Japan
Foundation, Los Angeles)
IC recorder: 15 contestants (Panasonic)
Ballpoint pen 1 dozen: 15 contestants (Littlet)
Boeing 777 miniatures: 2 contestants, Ballpoint pen: 15 contestants (All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.)
Mug cup (UTB): 15 contestants
Book of Japan’s Creative Thinking” Published by JETRO: 3 contestants (The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles)
T-Shirts: 15 contestants (Takagi At House)
Mouse pads: 15 contestants (Japan National Tourist Organization)
Memo pads: 15 contestants (Japan Airlines)
Framed Japanese dolls: 15 contestants (Marukai Corporation)
Tofu gift bag: 15 contestants (Morinaga Nutritional Foods, Inc.)
Soy soups, Furikake: 15 contestants (Mishima Foods USA)
Purse: 1 contestant. oil paper: 15 contestants. ballpoint pen: 15 contestants (IACE Travel)
Commendation: 15 contestants (Japan America Society of Southern California)