Japanese speech contest for Ukrainian students to resume in Kyiv after seven years
In short
A Japanese-language speech contest for Ukrainian university students, suspended since 2019, will resume in Kyiv on the 16th, the first in seven years. The organiser, the All-Ukraine Association of Japanese Language Teachers, plans to hold it in a shelter at Kyiv National University because of air raids. About 10 students from universities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv and Odesa are expected to take part.
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A Japanese-language speech contest for Ukrainian university students, suspended since 2019, will resume in Kyiv on the 16th, the Sankei Shimbun reported in a Kyodo dispatch, citing information that emerged on the 7th. The Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun also reported in their headlines that the contest in wartime Ukraine is set to return for the first time in seven years. According to Sankei, the contest had been interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic and the effects of Russia's invasion. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The organiser, the NPO All-Ukraine Association of Japanese Language Teachers, said members had called for the contest to be revived and that "doing nothing just because there are attacks is mentally hard." The association's head, Oksana Asadchykh, said it would be held in a shelter at Kyiv National University in preparation for air raids, once safety was ensured. [ 3 ]
Sankei reported that Russian forces have recently intensified attacks on Kyiv day and night using high-speed drones that are difficult to intercept, and that there was a large-scale ballistic missile attack on the 7th as well. [ 3 ]
According to the association, the contest is open to second- to fourth-year university students whose native language is not Japanese and who have spent no more than 90 days in Japan. The topic is free, and contestants compete with speeches of about five minutes stating their own views. About 10 students from universities in Kyiv, the eastern city of Kharkiv, the western city of Lviv and the southern city of Odesa are expected to take part. Citing the Japan Foundation, Sankei reported that 1,498 people studied Japanese in Ukraine in fiscal 2024. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The contest returns while Russian attacks on Kyiv continue, and organisers chose a shelter as the venue to keep participants safe. The organiser said members had asked for its revival and that doing nothing because of attacks is mentally hard. Three Japanese national and regional papers carried the news.
Key facts
- A Japanese-language speech contest in wartime Ukraine is set to be revived for the first time in seven years. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The contest for Ukrainian university students has been suspended since 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's invasion. [ 3 ]
- It will be held in Kyiv on the 16th, in a shelter at Kyiv National University. [ 3 ]
- The organiser is the NPO All-Ukraine Association of Japanese Language Teachers, headed by Oksana Asadchykh. [ 3 ]
- About 10 students from universities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv and Odesa are expected to take part. [ 3 ]
- Entrants are non-native second- to fourth-year university students who have spent no more than 90 days in Japan; each gives a speech of about five minutes on a free topic. [ 3 ]
- According to the Japan Foundation, 1,498 people studied Japanese in Ukraine in fiscal 2024. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Venue in a Kyiv National University shelter, the date of the 16th and the participant numbers. Only one outlet, carrying a Kyodo dispatch, gives these details; the other two reports are headlines only.
- Whether the contest will go ahead as planned. The organiser said it would be held once safety is ensured, amid continuing attacks on Kyiv.