Author: Tsukuba International Relations Committee, Issue: September 2006, November 2006, Topic: Events

• DATE: Sunday, Nov. 12, 12:30 - 4pm.
• VENUE: Capio Hall, located at 1-10-1 Takezono, Tsukuba

The Tsukuba International Relations Committee (Kokusai Kouryuuiinkai) will be holding the third annual Tsukuba International Speech Contest ( gaikokujin ni yoru kokusai kouryuu nihongo speech taikai) on November 12, from 12:30pm to 4pm. There is no entrance fee. See 15 participants from various countries, including China, Korea, Bangladesh, Chile, Philippines, Mongolia, Palestine (I hope I got the name right) present their "take" on their experiences here in Japan. Entertainment will be provided during the break. As of this writing, performances of Koto (Japanese Harp) and Indonesian Dance are scheduled. Come one, come all. Even if you don't understand Japanese, the experience of seeing other foreigners speak Japanese is one of the best ways to learn the language.

Directions

The speech contest will be held at Tsukuba Capio Hall which is located at Takezono 1-10-1. Many of you might be unfamiliar with the Capio complex since it's set back quite a ways off of the street. It's on the south side of Tsuchiura Gakuen-sen which runs right through downtown. There is a park/plaza called Oshimizu Koen southeast of Tsukuba Center (which includes Seibu, Q't, Hotel Okura, and Aiai Mall). Capio is directly south of this park.

If you are traveling by car from the side street sandwiched between Q't/Seibu Complex and the Bus Center, travel south past LEXUS on the corner, followed by the large parking garage on your left. You should see the parking lot of Gakuen Ichiba Marketplace and the Italian restaurant. Capio is on the other side of the parking lot. You should be able to make out the building if you look past the parking lot. If you need to park your car, Capio Hall has a parking lot in front of the building (you'll need to drive around the block). Parking advice: The Capio parking lot is more of a "car" lot, meaning it's always full so you'll need to use one of the many fee parking lots in the neighborhood.

If you are traveling on the pedestrian and bicycling path between Higashi and Nishi Odori, you'll pass right in front on the way to Gakuen Ichiba Marketplace going south. It's about a 5-minute walk from Seibu/Central Post Office area.

If you have a lazy afternoon to sleep away, stop rolling around on your tatami and COME JOIN US!!!!

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Applying to Give a Speech

The Third Annual Tsukuba International Speech Contest is upon us once again. Are you one of those "gaijin" who feels like you've been here too long? Are you often spoken of as "My Darling is a Gaijin?" Are you always one of those who gets frustrated around this time for putting off the Japanese Language Proficiency Test application until the day of the deadline? Or, maybe you're one of those who is always resigned to the fact that come test day, you still would have gotten as far as the title page of that Japanese textbook that was used as a coaster for the past 3 months.

The City of Tsukuba invites you to express yourself by telling audiences what you have to say about Japan, your experiences while living here, the differences/similarities between your country and Japan, and whatever else makes you feel like there is a rice tsubu stuck to the sole of your foot. "Lifers," "Fresh-off-the-Boaters (FOBs)," and the rest of you who fit into that fuzzy "3-year" contract deal, this is your opportunity to express yourself. Irassshai!!!!!

Eligibility

1. Applicants must be of junior high school age or above.
2. Applicants must posses foreign citizenship.
3. Applicants must be living, working, or studying in the Southern, Western, or Rokko (Kashima and its vicinity) regions of Ibaraki.
4. Please note that there is no restriction on the applicant's length of stay in Japan (as was the case in previous years). However, junior and senior high school students, as well as those of professional-vocational

training colleges must have been in Japan for no longer than 5 years on the day of the speech contest.

Number of Presenters

There will be TWO stages in the judging process.\\ Stage 1 will involve the initial screening of applicants according to the submitted speech summaries. Applicants will be vying for 15 FINALIST slots. These 15 finalists will present their speeches on the actual day of the speech contest (Stage 2) and compete in front of an audience and panel of judges.

Speech Theme

Any subject that is not of a political, commercial, or religious nature is acceptable.

Time Limit

5 minutes.

Language of Presentation

Japanese. You may include a maximum of 30 seconds in another language.

How to Apply

1. Fill out an application form and submit it to the Kokusai Bunka-ka (International Relations & Culture Division) located at Tsukuba City Hall, Sakura Branch Office. This is the branch office where the Alien Registration Section is located.
2. Along with your application, please submit a written Japanese summary of your speech composed of between 400 and 600 characters. It should be in sentence form (an outline is not acceptable).
3. Also, submit a reading (in your own voice) of your speech summary recorded on to an MD or cassette tape. If such equipment is not available, other recording media MAY be considered. Please inquire with contest organizers.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 16, 2006

Application forms are available from any branch of Tsukuba City Hall.

Babysitters are available for finalists on contest day. Contact the number below by Oct. 30 to apply for this service. You will be asked to pay for an insurance fee.

Unfortunately, there were a few typos in the Japanese/English application forms that have already been printed and distributed. The age of eligibility DOES include students of junior high school age.

BRING OR SEND YOUR APPLICATIONS TO:
Tsukuba International Relations Committee
c/o Tsukuba City Hall, International Relations & Culture Division
1979 Konda
Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0018

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More Information

Tsukuba International Relations Committee
Phone: 029-857-3132
Email: ctz030[AT]info.tsukuba.ibaraki.jp

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