TCJ International Student Speech Contest & Manzai Grand Prix 2026!

On August 21, TCJ held one of its most popular annual events, the TCJ Speech Contest.
This year’s theme was “What I Would Tell Myself ○○ Years Ago.”

Looking back on their own experiences and the journeys they have taken so far, the contestants took to the stage to share, in Japanese, the words they wished they could send to their past selves.
Although many of them were understandably nervous, it was inspiring to see each student stand confidently on stage and express their thoughts in their own words.

First- and second-place winners were selected in both the morning and afternoon sessions, but every speech reflected the speaker’s individuality, hard work, and personal growth. It was an impressive contest filled with strong performances from beginning to end.

This year also marked the launch of a brand-new event: the TCJ International Student Manzai Grand Prix 2026.
The theme was “What’s So Strange About Japan?!”

The students turned the things they had found surprising, unusual, or culturally different while living in Japan into original manzai comedy routines, adding their own unique perspectives and sense of humor.
Small moments of surprise and confusion from everyday life quickly became comedy material in the hands of our students.
The venue was filled with laughter, and the performances gave us a chance to see a different side of the students from the Speech Contest—showcasing not only their Japanese ability, but also their creativity and expressive skills.

We were also delighted to welcome professional comedians from Yoshimoto Kogyo, who performed manzai live on stage.
For the students, being able to watch professional comedy up close was a rare and memorable experience.

The audience also played a big part in creating the lively atmosphere.
Classmates held up handmade cheering signs and called out their support to the students on stage. The whole class joined in to encourage the contestants, filling the venue with warmth, energy, and excitement throughout the day.

After the event, one of the teachers reflected:
“Some of these students could barely speak Japanese when they first entered the school. Seeing them stand so confidently on stage in front of such a large audience today was truly moving.”

Learning Japanese is about much more than memorizing words and grammar.
Being able to share your own experiences and feelings in your own words—and even move people or make them laugh—is also an important part of growing through language.

Once again, this year’s event gave us the opportunity to see just how much effort our students have put in and how far they have come.
A big thank you to everyone who took part, and to everyone who came to cheer them on!

We look forward to seeing you all back on this stage next year, even more confident and accomplished than before!