The 2025 Ōdate Kitaakita JHS Recitation & Speech Contest (第５７回大館北秋田中学校英語暗唱弁論大会) was held on Friday 29th August at Chūō Kōminkan (大館市立中央公民館) in Ōdate in the Audio Visual Hall (視聴覚ホール; Shichōkaku Hōru) on the 2nd floor. This year was the 57th annual competition.
45 students took part in the competition, performing 15 speeches and 30 recitations.
Program
The contest was split between recitation and speech portions this year, with participants only having to attend the portion they were participating in. Students could also leave early before awards were presented with permission from their teacher to return to their school.
| Recitation Portion
|
| 8:30 ~
|
Reception
|
| 8:50 ~
|
Opening Announcements
|
| 9:00 ~
|
2nd Grade Recitations
|
| 9:50 ~
|
1st Grade Recitations
|
| 11:00 ~
|
3rd Grade Recitations
|
| 11:30 ~
|
Break (Judging)
|
| 11:50 ~
|
Award Presentation / Closing Announcements
|
| 12:10 ~
|
Recitation Participants Disperse
|
| Speech Portion
|
| 13:00 ~
|
Reception
|
| 13:15 ~
|
Opening Announcements
|
| 13:20 ~
|
Speeches (1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade)
|
| 15:00 ~
|
Break (Judging)
|
| 15:20 ~
|
Award Presentation / Closing Announcements
|
| 15:30
|
Speech Participants Disperse / End
|
Judges
Rules
- Grading
- Point reductions for going over time
- Speeches and recitations should be under 5 minutes in length.
- If the time taken is between 5:01~5:10 the student will have 1 point deducted for each second they are over time. e.g. a student whose time is 5:04 will have 4 points deducted from their score.
- If a student goes over 5:11 they will be disqualified.
- Evaluation rubric
- Recitation: 2 areas of evaluation (English 60%, Delivery 40%)
- Speech: 3 areas of evaluation (Content 50%, English 30%, Delivery 20%)
- Presentations
- Students don't have to bow or announce title before speaking.
- Students may bring their script with them to the podium, but if they reference it, they will lose points. At the JHS Prefectural Speech Contest students are not allowed to bring scripts to the podium.
- If a student pauses or forgets part of their speech for more than 10 seconds, they will reminded by the judges. Points will be deducted in such case.
- Violation of the following rules may result in a deduction of points at the discretion of the judges:
- Use of props which draw attention to themselves is prohibited.
- Overacting or overperforming is prohibited.
- Students must not stand beside of or in front of the podium at any point (though consideration will be given in cases in which it is unavoidable for physical or other reasons).
- Microphones will not be used in either recitation or speech portions.
- Mask usage is left to individual discretion. However students shall remove masks before approaching the podium for their presentations.
- Other points
- Each school should pay the participation fee at reception (\400/student).
- Moriyoshi JHS and Kokusai Joho Gakuin JHS should bring their respective trophies which they won at last year's contest.
- There is no limit to the number of parents, etc. who may attend.
- There is no limit to the number of accompanying teachers, including ALTs.
- Temperatures will not be checked at reception.
- Participants selected to attend the JHS Prefectural Speech Contest will have to submit forms confirming their intent to do so.
- Food and drink is not prohibited at the venue. It is expected to be hot, so stay hydrated appropriately. However attendees should refrain from making noise while presentations are in progress.
- Other groups will use other parts of this facility. Please refrain from making noise outside of the venue room. Last-minute practices should be done inside the venue room.
Results
The top award is the Most excellent award. This award is given to 2 students, one for the speech and one for recitation. Other students who were impressive are given an Excellent award, and all other students who partake in the competition are awarded a Very good. All students received a certificate.
2nd Grade Recitations
1st Grade Recitations
3rd Grade Recitations
Speeches
| #
|
School
|
Grade
|
Gender
|
Speech Title
|
Award
|
| 1
|
Kamikoani
|
2
|
F
|
A New Future for Clubs
|
|
| 2
|
Ani Gakuen
|
7
|
M
|
Make the Impossible Possible
|
|
| 3
|
Seishō
|
2
|
M
|
Let's Learn from the Jomon People
|
|
| Paused while the judges had a discussion
|
| 4
|
Hinai
|
3
|
M
|
For the Brilliant Women
|
|
| 5
|
Kamikoani
|
1
|
F
|
Dance and Me
|
|
| 6
|
Moriyoshi
|
2
|
F
|
Why do I respect them?
|
|
| 7
|
Ōdate Dai Ichi
|
3
|
M
|
Words Can Change Society
|
|
| 8
|
Takanosu
|
3
|
F
|
The Way to Make Life Rich
|
|
| 9
|
Kamikoani
|
3
|
F
|
Paws for Thought
|
|
| 10
|
Seishō
|
3
|
M
|
My Troublesome Boy
|
|
| 10 minute break
|
| 11
|
Ani Gakuen
|
8
|
M
|
Lead, or be led
|
|
| 12
|
Kamikoani
|
1
|
F
|
Never Give Up!
|
|
| 13
|
Seishō
|
3
|
F
|
Encouragements Brace Me Energy
|
|
| 14
|
Takanosu
|
3
|
F
|
My Pride, My Hometown
|
|
| 15
|
Kamikoani
|
3
|
F
|
Postcards
|
|
|
ALTs
2024 Statistics
| Area
|
Schools
|
Students
|
Speeches
|
Recitations
|
3rd grade
|
2nd grade
|
1st grade
|
Male
|
Female
|
ME
|
E
|
VG
|
| Kamikoani
|
1
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
| Kitaakita
|
4
|
14
|
5
|
9
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
3
|
11
|
1
|
4
|
9
|
| Odate
|
9
|
26
|
11
|
15
|
7
|
4
|
7
|
7
|
19
|
|
7
|
19
|
| Total
|
14
|
46
|
21
|
25
|
22
|
13
|
11
|
13
|
33
|
2
|
13
|
31
|
ME = Most Excellent, E = Excellent, VG = Very Good (participation award)
See also
