Press Release on March 16, 2006


The Embassy, UJ hold 9th Japanese speech contest on March 11, 2006

Under the patronage of H.E. Professor Abdelrahim Hunaiti, President of the University of Jordan (UJ), the Embassy of Japan in cooperation with the UJ’s Language Center, held its 9th Annual Japanese Language Speech Contest on March 11 at the UJ’s new Language Center.

Twenty-six contestants participated in the contest which consisted of two sessions, Haiku and conventional speech.

Haiku is a type of very short lyric poem written under certain rules and rhythm, just like ghinnwa in the Arab world. It is composed of three lines, which depict the world of nature or human emotions. The three lines of Haiku must consist of five, seven, and five syllables.

Many Jordanian participants clearly in reciting poems and later on presented their impression on them. Also, two of the participants introduced Arabic Haiku. For instance, Ms. Janset Daghestani recited the following haiku:

White breath
In the morning’s silence
A traveler’s footsteps

Shi ro i iki (白い息)
A sa no shi zu ka ni (朝の静かに)
Ta bi bi to no o to (旅人の音)

As for the speech session, participants excelled in presenting their speeches. Many talked in native-like Japanese pronunciation that Japanese judges expressed their admiration for the students’ talent.

Themes presented in the speech session were: After ten years, a letter to someone and my motto. Most of he contestants described their hopes for a bright future for Japan-Jordan relationships.

H.E. Professor Hunaiti praised the excellent partnership between Jordan and Japan in various joint projects taking place in the UJ such as the Japanese language study which he described as “fruitful”.

Mr. Matahiro Yamaguchi, Charge d'Affaires of the embassy, stressed the importance of learning foreign languages in order to understand cultures. He gave an example of his own as a Japanese diplomat who studied Arabic. “I have studied Arabic long time ago in Cairo and here I am delivering a speech in Arabic on behalf of the Japanese Government. You too might one day deliver a speech in Japanese on behalf of the Jordanian government!”

Mr. Hussam Arafeh and Ms. Maha Sa’di won first prizes in the Speech and Haiku contests respectively.

Mr. Takeaki Sato, Resident Representative of JICA Jordan office delivered a speech also in which he renewed Japan’s commitment to develop technical and linguistic cooperation with the UJ.

Mr. Susumu Yamashita, Cultural Attaché of the embassy explained the reason behind Jordanians’ interest in Haiku by saying “Haiku has become popular among Jordanian language students since the contest introduced it and the reason behind this is the fact that Japan and the Arab world share their love for poetry.

Moreover, few Japanese teachers from Damascus and Aleppo as well joined the juries as guests. They and highly appreciated the advanced level of the Japanese language study in Jordan.

Also, the Higher Council for Youth (HCY) attended the contest and was represented by Mr. Aref Ishakat, Manager of Organizations and International Cooperation since the HCY is committed to send two outstanding winners as members of the Jordanian delegation to visit Japan under the joint program between them and the Japanese Embassy.

Three of the last year’s contestants visited Japan in different programs and two participants of this year are due to continue their postgraduate studies in Japan next month.

At the end of the ceremony, Director of the Language Center, Professor Ahmad Majdoubeh, praised the Japanese language program at the UJ and admired the contestants’ improved skills. Dr. Majdoubeh hoped for further development in the Japanese cultural activities in the UJ.

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