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Editor’s Note:
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. The final of the 29th Japan Chinese Speech Contest sponsored by the Japan-China Friendship Association (JCFA) was held in Tokyo on January 8. The 28 contestants came from 17 Japanese prefectures. They spoke about their experience in learning Chinese language, their contacts with Chinese people and their views on removing misunderstanding and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries. We publish the following two speeches for our readers’ interest.
After a Span of 40 Years
Yui Tanaka (Winner of the University Student Group)
Hi, everybody! Recently, my classmates often looked at me, saying “Oh! How come you smile so brightly today?” Some even said that I looked like I had won the lottery; well, I haven’t. But, to me, a “China fan”, there really is a happy event to celebrate, i.e. we will soon greet the 40th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations! Here, I can tell everyone without scruple that Yui likes China more than mice like rice and pandas like bamboo. I am a hundred percent “China fan”.
Of course, it is not a plain sailing for one growing up right now. Behind my beaming smile, there are tears. I remember that, once, I took part in an important Chinese language competition full of confidence. When I arrived at the venue, I found so many strong competitors, which made me feel as if I were looking at the sky from the bottom of a well. I felt even more dismayed when the competition results were released. I failed to get beyond the first round. At that time I couldn’t control my emotion, and cried as I called my Chinese teacher: “Teacher, I could not do it. I lost. I am finished!!” The teacher comforted me in a soft voice. Hearing me crying all the time, she said to me, “Oh, Yui, you are just like my own child. When you feel sad I feel sad, too!” These words injected a gush of warmth in me and brightened me up immediately. It was true that I didn’t win a prize, but I still felt very lucky and happy, because I have my Chinese mother. Whether I succeed or fail, the Chinese teacher like my mother will, as always, care for me, support me and cheer me on. It makes me feel very warm!
After I started to learn Chinese, I found that my horizons were broadened. Before, I did have such a favorable impression of China. The negative reports about China on TV and in newspapers had even prejudiced me against it. Now, the Chinese teachers and friends around me are so kind-hearted, friendly and amiable. All this has helped me completely remove my prejudice. I have discovered that the main reason for the embarrassments in the relationship between our two peoples is that we look alike in appearance and all have profound culture traditions, so when one side does not behave well enough, the other side will feel as if cheated. The Japanese eat sashimi, while the Chinese eat shish kebab; The Japanese keep a low profile and maintain an easy manner while the Chinese are straightforward and warmhearted…As a matter of fact, there are numerous cultural differences between the two nations. If we could adopt another way of thinking, we might have learned more wisdom from each other, thus enabling us to have a more colorful and wonderful life.
This year of 2012 is the 40th anniversary of Japan-China diplomatic relations. In 1972, a Japanese prime minister named Kakuei Tanaka built a bridge of Japan-China friendship. After a span of 40 years, an ordinary student called Yui Tanaka is determined to become a diplomat for the two peoples so as to make her due contribution to further consolidating the bridge of Japan-China friendship. As a common saying goes “A thousand-li journey starts with the first step.” Promoting Japan-China friendship is not something unattainable. Perhaps, by starting from the exchanges between us, the most ordinary people at the grass roots, friendly exchanges between our two peoples can really be promoted and the friendly relationship between our two countries last from generation to generation! In a word, I will pass my brilliant smile to more Japanese friends and let more Japanese people become “China fans” like me!
Have Confidence in Oneself
Yuka Goto (champion, group of people of all sectors)
Learning Chinese language has taught me a lot. And the most important aspect of all is that I gained confidence in myself during the learning process and I will never again deny any of my potentialities.
Because of my father’s work, my family lived in the United States for six years. When I went to the United States for the first time, I was a junior middle school student who could only say “This is a pen” in English. My sister, three years older, is very clever. So when she was very young, my father already began to teach her English earnestly. His strict teaching made my sister cry numerous times. Seeing the way she learned English, I thought it was a horrible thing to learn the language. So, I swore that, if there were any way out, I would never learn English.
Generally speaking, it is easier for smaller children to learn a foreign language. Accordingly, my parents said to me: “Yuka, you ought to learn English faster than your sister.” But, half a year later, it was my sister who got used to the life in the United States. She even spoke English in her dreams, while I had only learned to say only one more English sentence “What is this?” My sister’s English was far better than mine.
At first, my parents scolded me; and later they began to do homework for me. To my mind, by doing so, my parents showed their kindness and love for such a slow child. I knew they really wanted to say, “It doesn’t matter whether you can speak English or not.” All the family knew that Yuka had no talent in language. They didn’t believe that it was possible for me to master a foreign language, and had no more illusions about my ability there. During my six-year stay in the United States, the feeling of inferiority never left me. I felt that I could never do as good as my sister and any efforts I made were fruitless.
After graduating from senior middle school, I decided to return to Japan for higher education. Then, I had to learn a second foreign language. I was scared. How dreadful it was! What should I do? I couldn’t even learn English well, how could I learn one more foreign language? I boarded the plane for Japan, feeling terribly upset. On that flight I heard Chinese spoken for the first time. The hostess usually broadcasts in English, but this time she spoke in Chinese! Of course I couldn’t understand what she was saying. But I was touched by her beautiful pronunciation and intonation, and then involuntarily imitated her intonation. Hearing me blurting out Chinese, the friends sitting next to me said, “So you can speak Chinese! Why didn’t you tell us?” I was greatly surprised. I found this should be my talent, the talent in language. Since that day, Chinese became my last ray of hope to learn a foreign language.
Since then, I have been learning Chinese every day. And finally, I can stand in front of you to deliver this speech. The friends whom I made through learning Chinese have always encouraged me. They often say to me: “We believe you can! You are excellent!” What they said time and again is what I wished to hear since childhood. Their encouragement awakened me and I began to have confidence in myself.
Learning Chinese has given me not only knowledge and experience, but also confidence in myself. I will never give up any of my potentialities; never, not even the slightest!!
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. The final of the 29th Japan Chinese Speech Contest sponsored by the Japan-China Friendship Association (JCFA) was held in Tokyo on January 8. The 28 contestants came from 17 Japanese prefectures. They spoke about their experience in learning Chinese language, their contacts with Chinese people and their views on removing misunderstanding and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries. We publish the following two speeches for our readers’ interest.
After a Span of 40 Years
Yui Tanaka (Winner of the University Student Group)
Hi, everybody! Recently, my classmates often looked at me, saying “Oh! How come you smile so brightly today?” Some even said that I looked like I had won the lottery; well, I haven’t. But, to me, a “China fan”, there really is a happy event to celebrate, i.e. we will soon greet the 40th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations! Here, I can tell everyone without scruple that Yui likes China more than mice like rice and pandas like bamboo. I am a hundred percent “China fan”.
Of course, it is not a plain sailing for one growing up right now. Behind my beaming smile, there are tears. I remember that, once, I took part in an important Chinese language competition full of confidence. When I arrived at the venue, I found so many strong competitors, which made me feel as if I were looking at the sky from the bottom of a well. I felt even more dismayed when the competition results were released. I failed to get beyond the first round. At that time I couldn’t control my emotion, and cried as I called my Chinese teacher: “Teacher, I could not do it. I lost. I am finished!!” The teacher comforted me in a soft voice. Hearing me crying all the time, she said to me, “Oh, Yui, you are just like my own child. When you feel sad I feel sad, too!” These words injected a gush of warmth in me and brightened me up immediately. It was true that I didn’t win a prize, but I still felt very lucky and happy, because I have my Chinese mother. Whether I succeed or fail, the Chinese teacher like my mother will, as always, care for me, support me and cheer me on. It makes me feel very warm!
After I started to learn Chinese, I found that my horizons were broadened. Before, I did have such a favorable impression of China. The negative reports about China on TV and in newspapers had even prejudiced me against it. Now, the Chinese teachers and friends around me are so kind-hearted, friendly and amiable. All this has helped me completely remove my prejudice. I have discovered that the main reason for the embarrassments in the relationship between our two peoples is that we look alike in appearance and all have profound culture traditions, so when one side does not behave well enough, the other side will feel as if cheated. The Japanese eat sashimi, while the Chinese eat shish kebab; The Japanese keep a low profile and maintain an easy manner while the Chinese are straightforward and warmhearted…As a matter of fact, there are numerous cultural differences between the two nations. If we could adopt another way of thinking, we might have learned more wisdom from each other, thus enabling us to have a more colorful and wonderful life.
This year of 2012 is the 40th anniversary of Japan-China diplomatic relations. In 1972, a Japanese prime minister named Kakuei Tanaka built a bridge of Japan-China friendship. After a span of 40 years, an ordinary student called Yui Tanaka is determined to become a diplomat for the two peoples so as to make her due contribution to further consolidating the bridge of Japan-China friendship. As a common saying goes “A thousand-li journey starts with the first step.” Promoting Japan-China friendship is not something unattainable. Perhaps, by starting from the exchanges between us, the most ordinary people at the grass roots, friendly exchanges between our two peoples can really be promoted and the friendly relationship between our two countries last from generation to generation! In a word, I will pass my brilliant smile to more Japanese friends and let more Japanese people become “China fans” like me!
Have Confidence in Oneself
Yuka Goto (champion, group of people of all sectors)
Learning Chinese language has taught me a lot. And the most important aspect of all is that I gained confidence in myself during the learning process and I will never again deny any of my potentialities.
Because of my father’s work, my family lived in the United States for six years. When I went to the United States for the first time, I was a junior middle school student who could only say “This is a pen” in English. My sister, three years older, is very clever. So when she was very young, my father already began to teach her English earnestly. His strict teaching made my sister cry numerous times. Seeing the way she learned English, I thought it was a horrible thing to learn the language. So, I swore that, if there were any way out, I would never learn English.
Generally speaking, it is easier for smaller children to learn a foreign language. Accordingly, my parents said to me: “Yuka, you ought to learn English faster than your sister.” But, half a year later, it was my sister who got used to the life in the United States. She even spoke English in her dreams, while I had only learned to say only one more English sentence “What is this?” My sister’s English was far better than mine.
At first, my parents scolded me; and later they began to do homework for me. To my mind, by doing so, my parents showed their kindness and love for such a slow child. I knew they really wanted to say, “It doesn’t matter whether you can speak English or not.” All the family knew that Yuka had no talent in language. They didn’t believe that it was possible for me to master a foreign language, and had no more illusions about my ability there. During my six-year stay in the United States, the feeling of inferiority never left me. I felt that I could never do as good as my sister and any efforts I made were fruitless.
After graduating from senior middle school, I decided to return to Japan for higher education. Then, I had to learn a second foreign language. I was scared. How dreadful it was! What should I do? I couldn’t even learn English well, how could I learn one more foreign language? I boarded the plane for Japan, feeling terribly upset. On that flight I heard Chinese spoken for the first time. The hostess usually broadcasts in English, but this time she spoke in Chinese! Of course I couldn’t understand what she was saying. But I was touched by her beautiful pronunciation and intonation, and then involuntarily imitated her intonation. Hearing me blurting out Chinese, the friends sitting next to me said, “So you can speak Chinese! Why didn’t you tell us?” I was greatly surprised. I found this should be my talent, the talent in language. Since that day, Chinese became my last ray of hope to learn a foreign language.
Since then, I have been learning Chinese every day. And finally, I can stand in front of you to deliver this speech. The friends whom I made through learning Chinese have always encouraged me. They often say to me: “We believe you can! You are excellent!” What they said time and again is what I wished to hear since childhood. Their encouragement awakened me and I began to have confidence in myself.
Learning Chinese has given me not only knowledge and experience, but also confidence in myself. I will never give up any of my potentialities; never, not even the slightest!!