10th 東大杯
1st Speaker Yuya Kubota “The Chain of Illiteracy”
I am Yuya Kubota from Waseda University. A member of WESA, (2012~2014), a member of KUEL Speech Instructor(2015). In 2014, I won several speech contests such as Waseda Trophy, Suekawa Trophy, Momiji Cup, etc. It is my great pleasure and honor to participate in this wonderful contest. This Todai Trophy would be the very last contest in my university life. I would like to enjoy this contest from the bottom of my heart. Please enjoy my speech.
2nd Speaker Erika Taguchi “Lessons on how to be happy”
Hello, My name is Erika Taguchi, a senior at Kanagawa Sohgoh High School. Currently I live in Yokohama, but for the past 8 years of my life I lived in the United States and received most of my education there. My mother, sister and I lived in Kansas for two years, and later moved to Wisconsin. I then lived in Wisconsin for quite some time (about six years), before subsequently moving back to Japan during my Junior year of high school. Growing up, my passion was to play tennis, and it was actually this past year that I completely submerged myself in forensics and speech. My aspiration for the future is to become a successful entrepreneur (preferably working in the real estate industry). So, I wish to study business management at University. I'm thrilled to learn as much as I could from this precious experience. At Todaihai, I belive I could be one step closer to grasping the artistry of giving an effective speech!
3rd Speaker Shun Ishibashi “The Dangerous Drifters on the Sea"
I was born in Aomori prefecture, but now I am in Kyoto to study politics, especially the international security. I was the committee member of Doshisha University English Speaking Society Speech Section in 2015. Also I was the chief executive manager of The 42nd Annual All Japan Intercollegiate English Oratorical Contest for the Neesima trophy. Lastly, this Todai Trophy is the final opportunity for me to deliver my speech as a speaker. So I hope this contest will become the memorable thing for me.
4th Speaker Masumi Kanada “A Second, A Change”
I am a graduate of Waseda University and being a member of the Waseda English Speaking Society, I participated in several speech contests as a university student at that time. From the year 2014, I work in a Japanese general trading company. It is my pleasure to be back on the stage as a speaker, and I will try my best to be much as passionate as the students!
5th Speaker Aoi Goto “Genuine Japan”
My name is Aoi Goto and I am a 2nd year student in Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. My major is English that specializes the study in United Kingdom and the reason I chose this faculty is very simple, because I’m a big fan of Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. I lived in England for 5 years when I was little, so yes, I could say that I was the luckiest girl of all the Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes fans in Japan. But, unfortunately, for the whole 5 years I spent in England, I never for a moment became interested in Harry Potter or Sherlock Holmes. Rather at that time, I was crazy about Japanese ninjas! It was after I came back to Japan that I got absorbed in Harry and Sherlock world. Truly, life is not simple…
6th Speaker Anju Hirasawa “Cultivate your life”
Hello, everyone. I’m Anju Hirasawa, a member of Tohoku University E.S.S. Now, I live in Sendai, but my hometown is Yamagata. Do you know or have you ever been to Yamagata? As you may have imagined, Yamagata has fewer stores and amusement parks than Sendai and Tokyo. However, I love Yamagata very much because it has a lot of delicious foods like “tsuyahime(rice)”, and “sakuranbo”! If you have time, please enjoy Yamagata;) Well, I’m really surprised and glad to be here! I’m very shy around strangers, but I will try to talk with you all! Feel free to talk me;)
7th Speaker Josephine Eto “Diversity and Inclusion"
My name is Josephine Eto. I belong to the University of the Sacred Heart E.S.S. Speech Section. Currently, I’m studying English literature and also have great interest in studying the French language and culture. I grew up in Takarazuka, Hyogo. My father is Irish and that’s a key point for my speech. I often go to Ireland to visit my relatives. In my free time, I love to watch movies and to go my favorite artists’ concerts and am a big fan of a cycle racing like Le Tour de France. Nice to meet you.
8th Speaker Taiga Harada “Question the Wall”
If you asked my friends “What kind of man is he?” they would definitely say, “Crazy, lazy, childish etc.” Yes, I am the craziest and laziest speaker of all of the contestants. I tend to make laughter, so I guess I am a comedian not a speaker. Since I am that kind of person, I am often thought to be a person who don’t have any sincerity. However, this speech is a masterpiece of mine which I worked on sincerely. In this speech you could see my serious parts which is super rare, so don’t miss it.
9th Speaker Rei Ueda “Education for the 21st Century”
Hello, my name is Rei Ueda. I am in my second year at Toyama Chubu High School. Last year, I applied for Toudaihai but unfortunately, couldn't make it to become one of the contestant speakers. However, this year, I am honored to be given an opportunity to be a participant in the oratorical contest. Of course, I am aiming to become the champion but my biggest goal and wish is to persuade, entertain, and inspire the judges and audience within the seven minutes of my speech. I am really excited to achieve this goal! So please, sit back and enjoy!
10th Speaker Takami Shiokawa “No Day But Today”
I am a wife, homemaker, translator, and interpreter. But most of all, I am a Toastmaster. I joined Toastmasters, a non-profit educational organization, about four and a half years ago. Currently, nearly 330,000 Toastmasters around the world are learning and practicing public speaking skills and leadership skills through Toastmasters activities. There are more than 170 Toastmasters clubs in Japan and I belong to two of them. I won the third place at the Toastmasters District 76 (all Japan) Evaluation Contest in fall 2015. I also love rock-music, movies and American TV dramas. But my heroes are, Rory Vaden and Darren LaCroix, superstars in the public-speaking world!
11th Speaker Risa Kuzushima “Why am I angry?”
When I was a kid, my father told me repeatedly “Sorry to tell the truth, but you are not my child. I actually found you under the bridge.” So I always replied to him “Well, sad to tell the truth, I'm not cute because I look like you.” What a family.
12th Speaker Hinano Sugimoto “More than Charity”
Hi! I'm Sugimoto Hinano, a freshman of the University of Tokyo. I haven't declare my major yet, but I'm interested in physics. I'm so glad to be here as a representative speaker of this University. I'm from Kobe and I attended Kobe college high school. Actually, when I was in high school, my dearest classmate participated in this contest and she won the prize (and now she is a student of this University,) so I personally feel attached to this contest. I hope this contest would be a wonderful memory for all of us.