Nihongo Benron Taikai 2026
I participated in the Japanese speech contest held in Praha on 18th April 2026. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the event. The event was held in grand style, with Mr. Nagaoka, the Japanese Ambassador to the Czech Republic, in attendance.
This is the third-oldest Japanese speech contest held overseas, with a history even longer than that of Poland, a country that has been friendly towards Japan since before the WW2. As for why Japanese speech contests have been held in the Czech Republic for so long, why don’t we ask an AI? It should be able to explain it more clearly than I can.
As a Japanese person, I am truly delighted that such an event has been held for so long here in the Czech Republic, where I work. Kayaku have supported this event for many years, and our sponsorship funds are used to help run the contest and provide prizes for top performers. The special prize for the overall winner was, believe it or not, a round-trip ticket to Japan. I was really envious.
The presentations covered a wide range of topics, e.g. Japanese culture (such as traditional culture, anime, manga, literature and music), comparisons between the Czech Republic and Japan, challenges faced while studying, and experiences from traveling in Japan. Some even discussed famous novels that would be difficult for native Japanese speakers to understand, demonstrating the high level of proficiency among the presenters.
During the breaks in the contest, Japanese arts and songs were performed. I was particularly surprised to learn that “Ah, Lovely Meadows,” a song taught in Japanese elementary schools, is actually a Czech song (“Hořela lipka, hořela”). Since this song came from the United States, Japanese generally believe it to be an American song.
After the contest, we moved to the ambassador’s residence, where a standing reception was held. Cherry blossoms were in bloom in the spacious garden (though a bit late), and everyone enjoyed a pleasant chat. The Japanese food was extremely popular; in addition to traditional dishes like sushi, they served karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken) and okonomiyaki (a savory pancake filled with vegetables and meat or seafoods).
These are dishes I also make at home in Vsetin.
Finally, we are honored that our sponsorship is contributing to the friendship between Japan and the Czech Republic.
Best regards,
Akitoshi Hironaka
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Speech presentation in venue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzdI4il7-_s
Essay Contest Participants: Beginner Level
https://tinyurl.com/psani2026a
Essay Contest Participants: Intermediate to Advanced Level
