Prince Takamado Speech Contest Final Slated for Nov. 28

The Yomiuri Shimbun

11:14 JST, June 28, 2025

The final for the 77th H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Inter-Middle School English Oratorical Contest will take place on Nov. 28 at the Yurakucho Yomiuri Hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.

The contest is aimed at fostering global communication skills in young people. Twenty-seven finalists will deliver their original English speeches, with the winner taking home the H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy and other prizes.

Finalists will be selected from among junior high school students during nationwide prefectural-level preliminaries in September and October. The semifinals will be Nov. 26-27 at the Akasaka Civic Hall in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. Details can be found on Page 2 of today’s paper.

The annual contest is organized by The Yomiuri Shimbun and the Japan National Student Association Fund. It is supported by the Foreign Ministry; the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry; prefectural boards of education; and other entities.

Junior high schoolers get ready for contest

Junior high school students across Japan are preparing to compete in the 77th H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Inter-Middle School English Oratorical Contest.

From the tremendous number of those who will compete in the prefectural-level preliminary rounds in September and October, 27 students will advance to the national final that takes place in Tokyo on Nov. 28.

Five students each from Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa and Hokkaido prefectures; four each from Aichi and Fukuoka prefectures; and three from each of the nation’s other prefectures will advance from the preliminaries to the semifinals, limited to one student per school.

The semifinals will be held Nov. 26-27 in Tokyo.

Participants will deliver an original five-minute speech in English on any theme.

The winner will receive the H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy, with the runner-up taking home The Yomiuri Shimbun Trophy. The third-place student will receive the Japan National Student Association Fund Trophy, and The Japan News Trophy will go to fourth place. Fifth through seventh place will also be awarded trophies.

The schools of the top three speakers will receive a one-year subscription to The Japan News.

The competition is open to all students who are recommended by their school’s principal, with the following exceptions:

• Those who have lived in English-speaking countries or territories after their fifth birthday for a total of one year or more, or continuously for six months or more

• Those who have attended an international school or other schools that provide education in English in subjects other than English language courses for six months or more

• Those who live with a parent or relative who speaks English as their mother tongue at home or are natives of an English-speaking country or territory

• Past first- to third-place winners of the contest

TOSHIN HIGH SCHOOL is a special sponsor of the contest. Additional sponsors include Nippon Television Network Corp., Pentel Co. and World Family K.K.

For more details, call the contest office at (03) 3217-8393, or visit its website   .