The National Speech Contest for Students of Schools for the Blind and Visually Impaired, an annual competition for which Sumitomo Group Public Affairs Committee has been a special sponsor since 2003, was held on October 7, 2022, at Okayama Prefectural School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. For the first time in three years, the contest was held in the normal way with all the speakers in attendance.
The speech contest, which has a long, distinguished history going all the way back to its inception in 1928, marked its 90th anniversary this year.
In their excellent speeches, the nine young finalists whose ages range from 13 to 20, selected from seven regions covering Japan, discussed their challenges and aspirations, as well as what motivates them in their quest to fulfill their great potential as valued members of society.
Ms. Hanane Asai won the first prize in this year’s contest with a speech titled “What My Mother Taught Me.” She is a first-year senior high school general course student at Kobe Municipal School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Ms. Asai was a junior high school student when her mother passed away. Her mother had been supporting Ms. Asai with daily life as well as psychologically. In her difficulty, she asked herself, “Can I survive on my own?” Fortunately, she received warmhearted support and timely assistance from the people around her. She recalled her mother’s words, “It is important to work hard on your own, but you don’t have to do everything by yourself,” which calmed her and changed her outlook on life. “I want to be able to help someone just as my mother helped me,” she said.
Mr. Kiyoshi Shigematsu, a novelist, was a special judge this year. In his remarks addressed to each of the passionate speakers, he showed great empathy, creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere for the contest.
The Sumitomo Group Public Affairs Committee’s activities are inspired by the Group message, “Passing important values from people to people.” We relish the opportunity to contribute to the success of this contest in bringing the words and example of these life-affirming inspirational individuals to the attention of the wide audience they so richly deserve.
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