The award ceremony will take place on May 11, 2025, at the Embassy of Japan in Berlin, followed by a social gathering with Japanese snacks and tea, and a screening of the animated film Sing a Bit of Harmony (Japan, 2021), in the original Japanese version with German subtitles. The Embassy notes that attendance is not just for the film screening, and only registered guests will be granted access to the event.  Interested participants must register in advance using the QR code available in the following PDF document: Registration Form (PDF)

In the 2024 edition, the winners shared their speeches and advice via video, and participated in a cultural trip, further establishing the competition as a motivational platform for Japanese language learners in Germany. First-place winner Ellen Charlotte Hay shared a deeply enriching experience, both academically and personally. In her testimonial, published by the Embassy, she recounted how she discovered the contest by chance and used intensive auditory repetition methods with the help of native speakers to perfect her pronunciation. “The contest was a very motivating opportunity to focus on a single text for a long time," she said. Not only was she rewarded for her efforts, but she was also able to travel as part of the award, on a programme that combined linguistic excellence with cultural exchange.

In the 2024 edition, the winners shared their speeches and advice via video, and participated in a cultural trip, further establishing the competition as a motivational platform for Japanese language learners in Germany. First-place winner Ellen Charlotte Hay shared a deeply enriching experience, both academically and personally. In her testimonial, published by the Embassy, she recounted how she discovered the contest by chance and used intensive auditory repetition methods with the help of native speakers to perfect her pronunciation. “The contest was a very motivating opportunity to focus on a single text for a long time," she said. Not only was she rewarded for her efforts, but she was also able to travel as part of the award, on a programme that combined linguistic excellence with cultural exchange.

For detailed information on participation requirements, procedures, prizes and sponsors, visit: About the 2025 Japanese Speech Contest

• https://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_de/austausch_redewettbewerb.html https://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_de/austausch_redewettbewerb.html
• https://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_de/austausch_redewettbewerb_beitraege.html https://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_de/austausch_redewettbewerb_beitraege.html
• https://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_de/austausch_redewettbewerb_bedingungen2025.html https://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_de/austausch_redewettbewerb_bedingungen2025.html