This content was published: April 23, 2009. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Rock Creek student wins Toyama Cup Japanese Speech Contest
Photos and story by James Hill
Japanese language student Phil Allred won first prize in the Toyama Cup Japanese Speech Contest held at the Downtown Portland World Trade Center on Sunday, April 19.
The Rock Creek Campus student spoke in Japanese to an audience that included seven expert judges about his interest in the language, for more than six minutes. He was judged on language ability, speech content, and presentation.
The Toyama Cup is sponsored by the Toyama Prefectural Government in honor of the Oregon-Toyama sister state relationship, which celebrates its 18th anniversary this year. The contest was open to all non-Japanese students studying the language at Oregon’s colleges and universities. Contestants included students from University of Oregon, Willamette University and Lewis & Clark College. Speech topics included “Why I am studying Japanese,” “My Future Career Plans (and how Japanese will help),” and “The Importance of Sister-City and Sister-State Relationships.”
Allred’s Japanese instructor Keiko Yamanouchi said that Allred’s speech was written and presented “with honesty and humor,” and it spoke of his passion for his Japanese study. As the top winner, Allred took home a trophy, six Japanese books and an electronic English-Japanese dictionary.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »