Many Kobe University students, while learning in their respective specialized fields, also excel in club activities and achieve national recognition. KAWASAKI Hirotaka, a 20-year-old junior in the Department of Human Development and Community, Faculty of Global Human Sciences, who served as the president of the ESS (English Speaking Society) club, participated in the “44th annual all Japan intercollegiate English oratorical contest for the J.U.E.L. Cup” held in Yokohama City in August and won the prestigious title of “Japan’s No 1.” This is the first time a student of Kobe University has won this competition.
Nine years of speech experience lead to a remarkable achievement
Having started English speech in his first year of junior high school, Kawasaki is now in his ninth year of speech experience. He cannot hide his surprise that his first major competition spanning junior high school, senior high school and university levels resulted in the victory of the prestigious title of Japan’s No. 1. Reflecting on the competition with a smile, he says, “My speech skills have improved significantly since entering university. I had never even won a regional competition before. I’m glad that all my efforts up to now have finally paid off.”
In the world of English speech in Japan, this competition is considered the pinnacle that every student aims for at least once, both in terms of the scale of participation and the honor it brings. Approximately 100 participants from universities across the nation take part. The first preliminary round, based on audio and written scripts, narrows the field down to 25 participants. Only eight participants who pass the second preliminary round, which is based on recorded speeches, advance to the highly competitive final round. Each contestant presents an 8-minute speech, reciting from memory the script they have written themselves, followed by a 5-minute question-and-answer session with the judges. The key to victory lies in how smoothly and spontaneously one can respond to the questions.
The theme of Kawasaki’s speech in the final round was “Listen to the voice of your future self.” His speech began by describing a scene from when he was preparing for the university entrance exam, torn between attending a university he could likely get into that year or taking a gap year to aim for his dream university. He thought, “I wish I could ask my future self which choice would be better for my future.”
Developing his theory that “it’s better to regret something one has done than regretting not having done it”
At the Department of Human Development and Community, Faculty of Global Human Sciences, Kawasaki specializes in the psychology program, and so he incorporated the knowledge of psychology he had acquired over three years into his speech. What is the good life? According to 19th-century psychologist Erik H. Erikson, whether one’s life is happy or not is determined by reflecting on memories at the end of life. So, how can we reduce the long-lasting regrets and memories of actions not taken? Although he gave up the challenge of choosing his ideal university, he mitigated his feelings of regret by taking on various challenges after entering university, such as running for president of the ESS club and studying abroad. In conclusion, he developed his theory of that “it’s better to regret something one has done than regretting not having done it.”
Kawasaki began writing his speech script at the start of this year, meticulously refining it over two to three months until it was completed around spring. Subsequently, he participated in smaller competitions to present his speech, observing the audience’s reactions and continuously revising his script. While it is common for an 8-minute speech to include 900 to 1000 words, Kawasaki strategically emphasized taking ample pauses and focusing on clarity, opting for a concise 860-word manuscript, which proved to be effective.
Studying abroad in the United States through the Faculty of Global Human Sciences’ GSP program (exchange-based GS course, mid-term) from February to March this year also worked to his advantage. He stayed in southern Alabama for six weeks, conducting research on social issues such as religious views. The area has a large Protestant population, and by participating in Sunday worship services, he experienced firsthand how religion is embedded in the local community.
The appeal of giving a speech in English lies in the joy of embracing diverse perspectives
The ESS club has about 60 members, ranging from freshers to graduate students. It is divided into five sections: speech, debate, conversation, drama, and discussion. The members practice and refine their skills two to three times a week in the student union building. When Kawasaki joined the club, there were only a few students in the speech section, so he sometimes visited other universities for additional practice sessions and sought guidance there.
The appeal of English speech lies in the fact that “you can condense a valuable six months of university life into a speech just eight minutes long. Listening to other people’s speeches allows you to encounter experiences that you might never have had yourself, making it enjoyable to see your perspectives broaden and diversify.”
At the end of August, Kawasaki passed on his role as club president to his successor and moved on to a new stage. As a senior, he aims to become a speech instructor, guiding younger students beyond the confines of the university. Even after entering the workforce, he intends to stay involved in English speech contests whenever opportunities arise.
There was an impressive phrase in the speech presented by Kawasaki. As a message to all students, let us share it with you:
If you want to try something or do not want to give up something, I confidently say you should never give up. Studying abroad, treating your parents, confessing your love to someone, anything you are interested in is waiting to be tried. Even if you fail and are embarrassed now, your future self will consider it not a big deal.
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KAWASAKI Hirotaka: Born in 2004 in Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture, Kawasaki moved around due to his father’s job, living in Nagoya City and Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture. After graduating from Ibaraki High School in Osaka, he entered the Department of Human Development and Community, Faculty of Global Human Sciences at Kobe University in 2022. He finds the charm of Kobe University lies in its people. He loves the supportive atmosphere where everyone encourages each other to pursue their goals.
