JAPAN Forward launched its “Ignite” series of English compositions to directly share the voices of students in Japan with their global peers. Dokkyo University student Kanna Ogura is one. She wants to spare foreign children the sense of isolation she suffered when, at eight years old, she was thrust into a classroom where no one spoke her language.
Ogura directly tackles the Institute for International Business Communication (IIBC) speech contest’s motto, “Let’s communicate with the world,” emphasizing that 93% of communication is non-verbal. On an individual level, gestures like high-fives, smiles, and kindness can go a long way to helping someone from a different culture fit in and adapt.
Her speech won the 3rd Prize in the 3rd annual contest in 2025. Would you reach out to break the sense of isolation if you encounter a foreign student who doesn’t speak the local language? Please share your thoughts below, but first, let’s listen.
Thirty-ninth in the Series, ‘Ignite‘
Kanna Ogura, 3rd Prize Winner of the 3rd IIBC University Student English Speech Contest
Watch Kanna Ogura give her presentation in English:
About the Winner:
Dokkyo University student Kanna Ogura was eight years old when she was thrust into a classroom where no one spoke her language. Speaking no English, she encountered ridicule and isolation in a painful experience. Returning to Japan a few years later, she found foreign students in Japan in a similar situation and wanted to do something about it. The warmth of nonverbal communication helps, she emphasizes in her speech. Everyone can make the choice to reach out with small gestures. They add up and help create an environment where no child feels isolated, she explains. Listen to her speech, and let us know how you would handle the challenge.
Upon winning the 3rd Prize in the 3rd annual IIBC English Contest in 2025, Kanna Ogura also shared this comment:
“Through the significant challenge of participating in my very first speech contest, I was able to learn a great deal and grow as an individual. I gained a firsthand appreciation for both the difficulties and the joys of conveying my thoughts and feelings in English. I intend to leverage this invaluable experience in my future studies and activities, and to continue striving to improve.”
Kanna Ogura (©IIBC)
About the Speech Contest
The “IIBC University Student English Speech Contest” is a nationwide contest for university students, organized by the organization that administers the TOEIC® Program. Kanna Ogura’s presentation is from the contest’s 3rd edition in May, 2025. To learn more or to participate in the future, see the IIBC homepage.
Explaining the contest, IIBC says, “In this globalized era, leading people in the direction they desire requires logical thinking, appropriate word choice, and skillful use of voice and body language.
“IIBC supports English speech activities that utilize these skills and provide a platform for communication, thereby contributing to the creation of global talent that ‘connects the world.'”
Feel free to join the conversation by leaving comments on the topic in the comment box below.
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Author: Kanna Ogura, Student,
Dokkyo University
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