This year's speech contest was claimed to be the biggest success in its 11-year tradition. Close to 80 students representing 9 schools in Pittsburgh participated.

The event could not have come to be without the generous support of Westinghouse, Sumitomo Corporation of America, Mitsubishi Electric Power Inc., The Asian Studies Center at the University Center of International Studies, and the Consulate General of Japan in New York.

This year, Megan Hirsh of Shaler High School was the overall winner, and took home the Consulate Prize of an electronic dictionary.

This year’s cultural theme explored the world of Japanese ceramics. Special presentations were given by Dale Huffman, chair of the art department at Carlow University, and Japanese artists Hiromu and Mieko Okuda, who recently completed a residency at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Special guest speakers who offered words of support were Ms. Yuko Suzuki from the Consulate General of Japan in New York, and Dr. Siddharth Chandra, director of the Asian Studies Center.