On October 18, Okayama University held the 10th Okayama Cup Japanese Speech Contest online, connecting universities in China with the six national universities in Japan (Chiba University, Niigata University, Kanazawa University, Okayama University, Nagasaki University, and Kumamoto University).

This speech contest was organized with the cooperation of the Six National Universities International Education, Research System (SixERS), the Consulate-General of Japan in Shenyang, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Beijing Office. Its purpose was to support students learning Japanese at universities in the three northeastern provinces of China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning) and to strengthen collaboration between universities in Japan and China. For the online implementation, student volunteers and staff from Northeast Normal University (Changchun, Jilin Province, China) supported the operations on-site in China.

In the contest, a total of 10 students, consisting of 4 from the speech category and 6 from the reading category, who were selected through a preliminary video screening, presented in front of an audience from the three northeastern provinces of China and the six national universities in Japan. The judging panel included HAMADA Takashi, the Consul-General of Japan in Shenyang, as well as SUZUKI Takayoshi, Vice President for International Affairs and Alumni, and faculty members from the six national universities in Japan.

As a result of the rigorous judging, the grand prize in the speech category was awarded to Yi Siyu from Dalian University of Foreign Languages, and the grand prize in the reading category was awarded to Sun Dongxu from Dalian University of Foreign Languages. Additionally, as a special award, the Consul-General's Prize from the Consulate-General of Japan in Shenyang was awarded to Zhen Li from Dalian University of Technology.

Okayama University will continue to promote academic exchanges between Okayama University, the six national universities, and universities in Northeast China, based on nearly 40 years of exchanges, and will cultivate human resources that serve as a bridge for Japan-China friendship.

○Six National Universities International Education, Research System (SixERS)
An organization established within the Consortium of Six National Universities in Japan to promote international collaboration and cooperation among the six national universities. Okayama University Vice President for International Affairs and Alumni SUZUKI Takayoshi serves as the director of the organization.

○The Consortium of Six National Universities in Japan
The Consortium was established in March 2013 for the purpose of further strengthening functions of education, academic research, social contribution, etc., and promoting human resource development and upgrading academic research to lead global society through cooperation among the six national universities, while respecting their independence and self-reliance.