Karen Irwin and Simon McLean from Ballyclare Primary School receiving their prizes from Tamzin Caffrey of CILT.

Japanese language and culture is thriving in UK schools, with over 270 schools teaching the language, and many more running Japanese activities such as manga clubs, taiko drumming, or exchanges with partner schools.

The first Japan Webpage Contest for Schools, organised by The Japan Foundation, was a chance for schools to shout about their Japanese activities, and 32 schools rose to the challenge.

The Overall Winner went to Ballyclare Primary School in Northern Ireland, whose micro-site showcases projects with its Japanese partner school. Visitors can read about Ballyclare¡Çs ongoing attempt to walk the distance to Japan, and watch narrated story-videos about an Evil Germ, a Grumpy Tiger, and a Super Penguin, written collaboratively by children in both schools. ¡ÈWe were totally delighted to win the overall first prize,¡É said Ballyclare¡Çs Principal, Kim Cowden. ¡ÈThe award will give us great satisfaction and will build enthusiasm in the future for our Japanese link.¡É

Primary 6 pupil, Adam Stanley, from Bearsden Primary School (Runner-Up and Public Vote Award Winner) said ¡ÈMy class was inspired to make the website because of our topic on Japan. I really liked making the block prints on Hokusai¡Çs Great Wave.¡É

The 7th Nihongo Cup gave secondary school students the chance to write and deliver an original speech entirely in Japanese. 268 students from 22 schools entered the contest, more than double the number from last year. On 19th June the 18 chosen finalists wowed an audience at the Embassy of Japan with their incredible Japanese language skills.

The first prize for Key Stage 4 and 5 categories went to two students at Wycliffe College, Tanya Naumenko (Pre-GCSE) and Ollie Capehorn (Post-GCSE). The Key Stage 3 category was won by Jonah Allan of Aylesbury Grammar School, who said ¡ÈThis was probably the best moment of my life to date!¡É

¡ÈWith Japanese, we¡Çre probably the luckiest language of all, because of the incredible support we have from the Japanese Embassy and the Japan Foundation,¡É says Anne Rajakumar of South Wolds Community School. ¡ÈAll these initiatives raise the level of interest amongst the students to almost fever pitch.¡É

We hope that more and more students and schools will participate in these contests in the future.

Kim Woodruff
Programme Officer
Japan Foundation London