Japanese Language Speech Contest 2009 and

Prize Awarding Ceremony for the Fourth Japanese Literature Translation Contest

The said translation contest which took place on February 28, 2009 simultaneously in Yangon and Mandalay was organized by the Embassy of Japan with the cooperation of the Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA) and supported by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce Yangon (JCCY).

The annual Japanese Literature Translation Contest has been held to introduce Japanese literature to Japanese Language learners in Myanmar and to improve their Japanese proficiency.Three levels were set for the contest, namely basic, intermediate and advanced.The contestants chose one level according to their level of proficiency.This year, prescribed literatures to be translated into Myanmar for the basic level was a short story “The Abbot and the Novice” by author Kusuyama Masao; for the intermediate level, “The Little Cart” by Miyazawa Kenji; and for the advanced level, “The Head and the Belly” by Yokomizu Riichi.111 contestants from Yangon and 86 contestants from Mandalay took part in the contest.The prize winners will be announced on May 15, 2009.

The Tenth Japanese Language Speech Contest will also be organized by the Embassy of Japan with the cooperation of the Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA) and supported by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce Yangon (JCCY).The theme for this contest is “Together Toward the Future, Mekong and Japan”, the catch phrase of the Japan-Mekong Exchange Year.Initial screening through the written essay and cassette tape on the topic submitted by the contestants has been done, and the best 15 will be selected to participate in the contest.

Top prize winners of this special year contest will have a chance to represent Myanmar and participate in the Japanese Language Speech Contest of Mekong member countries which will be held in Japan this October.

Together toward the future, Mekong and Japan