January 16, 2026
The 51th Annual Japanese Speech Contest for Elementary School Students
The Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco, the Japanese American Association of Northern California, and the Northern California Japanese Teachers’ Association are pleased to announce the 51th Annual Japanese Speech Contest for Elementary School Students as follows:
Date and Time
Sunday, March 1, 2026 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Venue
JCCCNC (Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California)
1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Eligibility
1. Students currently attending elementary schools in the Northern California region.
2. Students who have not resided in Japan for a continuous period of three months or more after the age of three.
3. Elementary school students whose Japanese language learning as a foreign language does not exceed eight hours per week. Students learning Japanese solely at home or at supplementary schools where total instruction time does not exceed this limit are also eligible.
4. Students who have previously won first place in this contest may not participate
in the same group as described below
Contest Groups
The contest is divided into the following two groups and categories:
• Group A: Grades 1–3 (US)
-Category 1: Students who do not speak Japanese at home (no family members who understand Japanese).
-Category 2: Students who speak Japanese at home.
• Group B: Grade 4 and above (US)
-Category 3: Students who do not speak Japanese at home (no family members who understand Japanese).
-Category 4: Students who speak Japanese at home.
Application Process
• Each school may submit up to two representatives and one alternate candidate
per category.
• Applications and required documents must be submitted by schools (teachers).
Applications from individual students or parents will not be accepted. (Special cases, such as homeschooling, can be individually consulted.)
• Confirm the eligibility and category of each student and clearly indicate their category and status (representative or alternate) on the application forms.
• The application deadline is Friday, February 6, 2026, by 5:00 PM.
Required Documents
Access the provided Google Form via the link below and fill in the required details:
• Application form for schools (one submission per school).
• Application form for students (one submission for each participating student).
• Liability waiver and consent for use of images (one submission for each participating student).
Participant Selection
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of 10 participants per category. If the number of participants falls short of 10, alternate candidates will be selected from schools with more Japanese language learners. More than 10 participants per category may be accepted in some cases.
Note: The level of Japanese language learners has been improving, and we deeply appreciate the dedication of teachers and parents. However, there have been instances of incorrect eligibility or category applications. To ensure fairness, please carefully confirm the application details. If any falsifications or ineligibility are found, participation and results may be revoked.
Evaluation Criteria and Rules
• Criteria: Content, pronunciation, and expressiveness.
• Topic: Free choice.
• Length: Speeches must be within two minutes. Exceeding the time limit will result in point deductions during the final evaluation.
• Props: Related props (objects or illustrations) may be used, but electronic or electrical devices are not allowed. Props requiring extensive setup or takedown are also prohibited. The time for setup and takedown is included in the twominute limit. Using multiple props is allowed, but exceeding the time limit will result in point deductions.
Awards
All participants will receive a certificate of participation and a prize. The top three winners in each category will receive a certificate of achievement and a trophy.
Contact Information
Japanese American Association of Northern California Speech Contest Committee
Phone: 415-921-1782
Email: ohanashitaikaisf@gmail.com
Hokka Nichi Bei Kai
1759 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94115