The 38th annual Ontario Japanese Speech Contest was held at the University of Toronto on Feb. 29. Nine students from York University's Japanese Studies program participated in the contest's four categories. Five students from York took home prizes.

Lily Feng

In the beginners’ category, the grand prize went to Lily Feng, while Mohona Meeftahul won the third place prize.

Anson Wong brought home the first-place Toyota Canada Award in the intermediate category. Divine Domingo won the special effort prize in that category.

Michael Tracey won the Subaru Special Prize in the open category.

Feng, Wong and Tracy will each participate in the National Japanese Speech Contest in their respective categories on March 29 in Toronto.

"I am extremely delighted by the outstanding achievements made by the York students," said Norio Ota, associate professor in the Japanese Studies program. "They represented the University extremely well and made themselves shine in the contest. Their efforts were truly commendable."

Ota noted that this success would not have been possible without the coaching and tutelage of fellow faculty members Kiyoko Toratani, Kumiko Inutsuka and Akiko Mitsui.

Professors Noriko Yabuki-Soh and Inutsuka also served on the contest's organizing committee. Ota contributed to the contest as the web master.

York University contest participants

More information about Japanese Studies at York University can be found on the program's website. Additional details about the competition can be found on the Ontario Japanese Speech Contest website.