Multiple Prizes in Japanese Competitions for Macleans College Students

Around twenty senior students studying Japanese recently had the opportunity to take part in two competitions - the Annual AUT Speech Festival, and the Haiku and Shodo competition.

The Annual AUT Speech Festival was held on 19 July at the Auckland University of Technology city campus.

The Haiku and Shodo competition was part of the Fukuoka Day event which celebrated the 30th Friendship Anniversary between Auckland City and Fukuoka City (sister cities) in the Auckland Town Hall on 3 September.

Macleans College students were awarded with commendable prizes as follows:

AUT Speech Festival:
Kevin Shen 12PPR - 2nd Prize (Year 12 category)
Mirae Lee 12CZB - 3rd Prize (Year 12 category)
Jonathan Shaw 11GUB - 2nd Prize (Year 11 category)
Jessie Meng 12DUT - Highly Commended (Year 11 category)

Haiku and Shodo Competiton:
Kevin Shen 12PPR - AUT Judges’ Prize
Jonathan Shaw 11GUB - Japan Foundation Award

Fukuoka Day was a public event for every Aucklander to enjoy and celebrate the anniversary. The Haiku and Shodo competition aims to provide an opportunity for learners of Japanese language to express their thoughts and feelings in a Japanese Haiku poem and to experience the traditional Japanese art of calligraphy. Entry is open to high school students between Years 10 to 13 who are studying Japanese at schools throughout New Zealand (non-native speakers of Japanese).

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of our sister city’s relationship with Fukuoka City, the theme of this year’s Haiku and Shodo competition was “友好 (friendship)”. Participants were invited to compose a poem related to the theme. Participants were required to compose a Haiku poem in Japanese.

Haiku poems were judged based on the content (creativity and interest), the use of Japanese language (expressions and accuracy), and the writing of the poem in calligraphy. Winners were selected by the Japanese language teachers at the School of Languages and Culture, AUT.

Prizes were sponsored by the Japan Foundation (www.jpf.go.jp) and the Fukuoka City Council and other sponsors. The shortlisted participants were interviewed by the NZJS council members both in Japanese and in English.

Students’ haiku were displayed at the Auckland Town Hall at “Fukuoka Day” where the prize-giving took place.