Social themes top Japanese speech contest

Social themes top Japanese speech contest

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Standing in front of dozens of people eager to hear her, Erni
Suryadi, a contestant in the Japanese Language Speech Contest on
Saturday, focused her mind on the 1,000 origami cranes she once
made.

"I told the audience about the one thing I believe: I believe
in hope. I believe that 1,000 origami cranes will answer your
prayers," the student of Bina Nusantara University said after she
delivered her speech.

The cranes must have helped. The jury panel, comprising four
Japanese and one Indonesian, awarded Erni the first prize because
she spoke eloquently about a Japanese theme that drew upon her
own experience.

"Originality and confidence is highly appraised in delivering
a speech," said one of the jurors before announcing the winners.

The 16 contestants of the annual event organized by the Japan
Foundation raised various themes, from education issues to
Jelangkung, a mystical game from Indonesia.

Contestant Vita Hadinata said that she had chosen to speak
about the Japanese tea ceremony because she wanted to elaborate
on the religious element of the ceremony.

"The ceremony is a part of Zen Buddhism rituals," the Santa
Ursula high school student said.

The Japan Foundation director Kazuo Ando said that this year's
contestants were more creative in choosing a theme.

"Compared to last year, which mostly discussed computers and
technology, this year's themes were richer because it also
covered social issues. That is a good improvement," said Ando.

However, one of the audience members, Dewi Yudhasari, demanded
that participants choose topics that focused on Indonesia rather
than elaborating on Japanese culture.

"Most of the participants tend to talk about how great Japan
and its people are. That's not wrong. But considering that they
will go to Japan if they win the contest, they should talk more
about Indonesia so they could also be our 'cultural
ambassadors'," said Dewi, who is head of the Japanese language
department at the LIA foundation.

Erni, along with the first and second runner-ups, Mutiawanthi
and Arius Ferdian Samuel -- both students of the Japan
Foundation's Japanese Language Course -- will go to the national
round in July 2 for a chance to win a trip to Japan.

This was the 34th speech competition held by the Japan
Foundation, and it is aimed at improving Indonesians'
understanding of Japanese language and culture. (006)