The Aurora Foundation Speech Contest
The Aurora Foundation will hold the fifth All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest on Saturday, May 24 on the campus of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) at the Hitachi Chemical Research Center.
In conjunction with the National Council of Japanese Language Teachers and Consulate General of Japan in LA, the contest will provide opportunities for young learners of Japanese to make presentations in Japanese and to inspire more students to improve their proficiency in Japanese. It is also hoped that the contest will encourage students to further their understanding of Japan, its people, and its culture.
Fifteen contestants will take part in the fifth annual contest, to be held on May 24, 2008. Contestants will be chosen from a pool consisting of the top three winners of various sub national/regional/state/multi-school Japanese language speech contests held throughout the USA between April 1, 2007 and April 14, 2008. If more than 15 applications are received, participants will be selected based on evaluations of tape recordings of the applicants' speeches in Japanese.
All applicants must:
(1) Be one of the top three winners of a sub national/regional/state/multi-school Japanese language speech contest held in the USA and its territories between April 1, 2007 and April 14, 2008;
(2) Provide a recommendation form completed on the applicant’s behalf by an official representative of that contest;
(3) Be high school students at the time of the Aurora speech contest (senior year applicants graduating in May or June, are still eligible);
(4) Not be native speakers of Japanese or have a Japanese parent (Issei);
(5) Have not had more than six months of schooling in Japan after age six;
(6) Not have entered an international speech contest (Japanese Speech Award - organized by E.G.G., JSA Planning Committee) in the past;
(7) Submit a copy of their speech (script) in applicants' own handwriting and an audio recording of the speech in Japanese with the completed application form.
Judging criteria includes content and presentation of speech, (open topic, length of speech must be five minutes or less) and interviews with Judge after the speech presentations.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a $1000 scholarship and a trip to the overseas students' Japanese Speech Award (JSA) contest held in Tokyo, Japan, in July 20. The 2nd place winner will receive a $500 scholarship. The 3rd place winner will receive a $300 scholarship. All participants will receive a commendation.
The 15 contestants will be invited to Los Angeles the weekend of May 23-24, 2008. The sponsoring organization or the student will be responsible for transportation between the student's home and Los Angeles. The Aurora Foundation will cover all the contestants' appropriate expenses while in Los Angeles. Contestants will home-stay with Japanese host families in the Los Angeles area for two nights, unless a student wishes to make his or her own housing arrangements at his/her own expense.
April 30 (Wed), 2008 - Announcement of 15 participants
May 23 (Fri), 2008 - Participants arrive in Los Angeles, attend Welcome Dinner (5 pm)
May 24 (Sat), 2008 - Rehearsal & Contest (1-4 pm)
Location: Hitachi Chemical Research Center, Lecture Hall,
University of California, Irvine
1003 Health Sciences Road West, Irvine, CA 92612
Goodwill Party (6-8pm)
May 25 (Sun), 2008 Free time, Participants depart from Los Angeles
For more information, contact the Aurora Foundation
by e-mail at aurorafoundation@usa.net or NCJLTncjlt@japaneseteaching.org
2008 Rainbow Student Exchange Program to Japan
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Foundation is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for its 12th annual Rainbow Student Exchange Program for 2008, in cooperation with Ashinaga Ikueikai in Japan. This is four-week “Study Tour in Japan” Program. Selected students will leave Los Angeles on July 19, 2008 and return to Los Angeles on August 17. Ashinaga Ikueikai Is a non-profit organization in Japan which offers scholarships and guidance counseling to young people in Japan whose lives have been affected the death or permanent disability of one or both parents.
The program includes : round-trip travel to Japan provided All Nippon Airways (ANA) and travel / hotel / meal expenses during their stay in Japan provided by the JCC Foundation and Ashinaga Ikueikai, except for personal expenses irrelative to the program.
Application qualifications are :
1. 18 – 23 year old college student enrolled in a 2 year or 4 year college full time,
2. U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
3. Some ability to understand and speak Japanese Language,
4. Strong interest in enhancing personal knowledge about Japanese culture and
U.S – Japan relations, and
5. One or both parents are either deceased or permanently disabled.
In addition to application form, an essay is required by each applicant. An interview may be also required. The deadline to submit an application and essay is Thursday, May 14, 2008 by 5:00p.m. To ask for an application form and information sheet, please contact the JCC Foundation at 213-626-3067 or by e-mail to : office@jccsc.com
LTBA Golf Tournament
-Come out and join for a Great day of Golf !-
Industry Hills Golf Club on Monday, May 19. 1:00 p.m. shotgun start, $175 per golfer. Scramble Format with Modified Handicap. For information about the Little Tokyo Business Association, golf, donations or sponsor opportunities, contact chair Mr. Eiji Morishita at 510-693-5829. To apply, please make your check payable to : LTBA Golf c/o The Rafu Shimpo 138 Onizuka St. Los Angele, CA 90012
The Nisei Week Fashion Show is Back !
-Your presence is desired at the haute fashion event of the spring season-
World acclaimed designers Anne Namba and Peter Lai will showcase their latest creations on the runway featuring our bevy of former Nisei Week Queens.
Mimi and Maggie will present coveted fashions for the younger set modeled by the daughters and grand-daughters of their former Queens.
Designer and boutique shopping will be available for your purchasing pleasure.
Join to The Nisei Week Fashion Show for an afternoon of fan, fashion, and friends.
Date : Sunday, May 18, 2008
Boutique : 10:30 a.m. Lunch & Fashion Event : 11:30 a.m.
Place : Omni Hotel 251 Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-617-3300
Ticket & Contact / Nisei Week office at 213-687-7193
“La Vida Sake” at Petersen Automotive Museum
-A Sake and Food Tasting Event-
Join at “La Vida Sake” on May 22nd for an evening of sake and food tasting benefiting the Little Tokyo Service Center. Cruise the lowrider exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum and take a little trip to sake and food stations. Sake generously provided by Mutual Trading. Also, Chef Akira Hirose of Maison Akira will be honored for his community involvement.
Hop to LTSC.org/sake for info and tickets or contact Jennifer at 213-473-1615
Petersen Automotive Museum / 6060 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036
Thursday, May 22. 2008 7:00 pm-10:00 pm
General Admission : $60 Pre Sale / $70 at the door. Must be 21 and over
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