We included so much background, photos, information, and news was in our newsletter that the file size is too big to publish it all here at once. Here are some parts you might enjoy.

2023 JSANZ Tertiary Japanese National Language Speech Contest Prizegiving, University of Auckland

JSANZ publication Creating new synergies: Approaches of tertiary Japanese programmes

Next newsletter sections coming soon

It is officially the 10^th anniversary of JSANZ (Japanese Studies Aotearoa New Zealand). Over the past few years the teaching and learning of languages has been beset on all fronts by a number of seemingly insurmountable issues (university redundancies and staff cuts; Artificial Intelligence; worldwide serious decline in language learner numbers; Covid and online learning problems etc.)

Our anniversary is a big reason to turn our backs on all of the above for a moment and celebrate, as is the increased interest, among New Zealanders, in Japan as a tourist destination. It is also an opportunity to do some soul searching and discussion about where we go from here.

A newsletter will be sent out to all members soon and we intend to include a selection of short clips from members that show what the general trends are and what the membership is thinking, so now is the perfect time to update us with your contact detail changes and give us your opinions. You can message us here on Facebook, or on our website www.jasanz.org

Get your responses in quickly before the Newsletter is completed.

Meanwhile congratulations and a huge thank you to the president and executive members of the JSANZ teachers network, to our stakeholders for their ongoing valued support and to all our members working for the cause of Japanese language and Japanese studies in the

background.

Once again we are honoured to have so many high quality participants and to be able to congratulate three outstanding winners in the 2023 JSANZ Tertiary Japanese Language Speech Contest. The winner this year is Sua Yoo from Auckland University and in second place, Sang Lee Yun from University of Canterbury. Raz Tripp, also from University of Canterbury, was the third place winner.

We will give details of the prizegiving and provide videos of the winning speeches as soon as we can.

今年度スピーチコンテストの結果をご報告致します。

優勝者はオークランド大学のSua Yooさんとなりました。

2位は、Sang Lee Yunさん、3位はRaz Trippさんで、共にカンタベリー大学在籍です。

今年度は、オークランド、カンタベリー、オタゴ、IPU、ヴィクトリアの5校より9名のエントリーがありました。

参加者学生は全員、各大学の代表にふさわしい素晴らしいパフォーマンスを見せました。先生方はじめ関係者の皆さまの鋭意・専心ぶりに深く感謝申し上げます。

[The Japan Foundation Program Guidelines for FY 2024]

The latest version of the Program Guidelines provides information and support for individuals and organizations applying for international exchange programs.

The Japan Foundation conducts programs for the three major areas of Arts and Cultural Exchange, Japanese-Language Education, as well as Japanese Studies and International Dialogue.

Please check the website for more details and application deadlines.

https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/program/

* Applications will be accepted electronically through the Japan Foundation’s Online Application Portal. Please check the website for details on application procedures.

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I appreciate your patience. I am Shin Takahashi from Victoria University of Wellington. I am pleased to share the guidelines for this year’s JSANZ Speech Contest. There are no significant changes in text from last year. But there is one thing I would like to draw your attention to, which is the schedule. The application period has opened today and will end on 1 August. Also, thanks to Mr Shimizu of Nisuikai, the winner of this year’s speech contest will be given round-trip tickets to Japan. So, thank you very much for this incredibly generous offer. Last but not least, I would like to thank Michiyo-sensei for her patience and kind guidance and Nishikawa Yoshie-sensei, who practically has done most of the groundwork.

Academy of New Zealand Literature

Tēnā koe,

The Academy of New Zealand Literature has published a round table of writers talking about living in and writing about Japan. 

Three of the writers are New Zealanders and one, Yuten Sawanishi, is a Japanese novelist and teacher of Japanese literature who is visiting Auckland this month. He is on the board of the Kyoto Writers Residency, in which New Zealand writer Paula Morris participated last year.

The feature contains a link to our free bilingual e-sampler called Taste of Clouds: New Zealand Writers Encounter Japan, including novel excerpts, stories, personal essays and poetry.

We would love for you to share the link to the feature and the sampler with your networks.

Ngā mihi nui,

Florence Crick-Friesen (on behalf of Paula Morris)

Ambassador’s Prize Ceremony for Massey & Victoria University Students
On 15th March 2023, the Embassy held the Ambassador’s prize ceremony for Japanese
language students from Massey University and Victoria University. Each of the recipients was
selected as the most outstanding Japanese language student for each year from 2020 to 2022 in
their courses at their respective universities. Recipients of the Ambassador’s prize are:
Ms Hannah Rose Lee: 2020 Recipient – Massey University
Ms Carol Geraldine Torres Tamayo: 2022 Recipient – Massey University
Ms Jordan Schulde: 2020 Recipient – Victoria University of Wellington
Mr Joshua Jeffery: 2022 Recipient – Victoria University of Wellington
*Mr Joel Coutts (2021 Recipient – Massey University) and Ms Alexandra Atkins (2022 Recipient –
Victoria University of Wellington) also received the prize in absentia.
The Embassy has held the ceremony for about 15 years for the purpose of acknowledging the
hard work of Japanese language students at both universities. We are glad to be able to hold this
for the first time since COVID started.
We congratulate all the recipients for their success, and hope that they will keep up the good
work in the future.

The deadline is 1 July 2023, 5:00pm

JSANZ is very proud to announce that Mrs Dallas Nesbitt, former Vice President of Japanese Studies Aotearoa New Zealand (JSANZ) and former Senior Lecturer in the School of Language and Culture, Auckland University of Technology, has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette for her contributions to promoting academic exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and New Zealand, in the 2022 Autumn Conferment of Decorations announced by the Japanese Government.

SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS

Mrs Dallas Nesbitt has been dedicated to Japanese language education in New Zealand for around 40 years.

Mrs Nesbitt was involved in establishing the Japanese course at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in 1984 and since then has played a central role in developing Japanese language education at AUT and has contributed to people to people exchange through educating students to become a bridge between Japan and New Zealand. She has also contributed to the development of Japanese language education through research activities into Japanese language education methodology, focusing on the study of Kanji and learner motivation, in addition to promoting the Japanese language across various networks, and writing a Japanese textbook

In addition, Mrs Nesbitt is active in furthering Japanese language education and Japan research in New Zealand. She was involved in the establishment of New Zealand’s first national network organization of tertiary level Japanese language educators and researchers, Japanese Studies Aotearoa New Zealand (JSANZ) and is currently engaged in promotional activities for Japanese culture and the achievements of this organization. https://www.auckland.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100414957.pdf

The full list of Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals is published at (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Webpage)

https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/protocol/jokun.html

(Japanese)

https://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/info/conferment/index.html

(English)

Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland 

On Thursday 30 June, Consul General Hamada awarded Dr Junji Kawai, Senior Lecturer of Auckland University of Technology, the Consul General’s Commendation in recognition of his distinguished service in contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and New Zealand.

Dr Kawai has been involved in Japanese teaching in universities in New Zealand for 30 years, and also been actively involved in promoting the Japanese language in the community in various ways such as organising the Auckland Regional Secondary School Japanese Speech Contest.

We offer our deepest thanks to Dr Kawai for all of his efforts and achievements and look forward to his continued success.