This year, two third-year Japanese students (2016), Bella Reid (Victoria University of Wellington) and Hayley Bartosh (Massey University), were awarded the Ambasador’s Prize for Japanese in a joint ceremony and luncheon at the Ambassador’s residence on 1 June. AVC International Stuart Morris, Penny Shino and Toshi Yamaguchi (Massey), and Head of School of Languages and Cultures Associate-Professor Sally Hi and Emerald King (VUW) also attended. The VUW prize was established by the Japanese Ambassador to New Zealand in 1980, His Excellency Mr Takahashi Oyamada, to mark the introduction of the course on Modern Japan. The Massey prize was established in 2013.