16^th Japanese Speech Competition by International Students Residing in Gifu Prefecture was held at Gifu University auditorium on November 25, 2017. Five international students of Gifu University attended the competition. They were: Mr.Andres Hideki Kaway Caceda (research student at the School of Medicine), Mr. Zlobin Vladyslav (1-year student of the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology), Ms. Ran Yaling (special auditor, International Student Center), Ms. Sun Yuxuan (Japanese Language and Culture Studies Course student, International Student Center) and Ms. Hell Fiona Sydney Kyra (also Japanese Language and Culture Studies Course student, International Student Center).

Since 2001, the competition is organized by the Gifu Regional Council for the Promotion of International Exchange to raise interests in Japanese and enhance Japanese skills of international students. Gifu University serves as an administrative office of the council. Seventy-six people on and out of campus came for the 16^th competition.

With the cooperation of Gifu Prefecture, thirty-four people attended an informal gathering sponsored by Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank and The Juroku Bank.

After an opening speech by President Hisataka Moriwaki of Gifu University (also president of the council), twelve students (from 8 countries) of five universities, junior colleges, etc. within Gifu Prefecture gave a 7-minute speech in Japanese to demonstrate their day-to-day study of Japanese to the audience. After a strict screening process, Ms. Sun Yuxuan won the Award for Excellence for her speech, "A Knickknack Shop I Love to Go." At the end of the competition, all the winners were given award certificates and small gifts from the president.

Prize Winners of the 16th Japanese Speech Competition by International Students Residing in Gifu Prefecture

Highest Award: Tsoi Kim Fung of Chubu Gakuin University & College
Speech Title: "Across-the-Board Hiring Opportunities for Newly-Graduates: Differences between Japan and Hong Kong"

Award for Excellence: Tran Minh Dou of Gifu Keizai University
Speech Title: "Japan, the Country that has Changed me"

Award for Excellence: Bhandari Rajendra of Nakanihon Automotive College
Speech Title: "Ideals I had about Japan and Reality"

Award for Excellence: Sun Yuxuan of Gifu University
Speech Title: "A Knickknack Shop I Love to Go"