Heard the one about the foreigner who wanted to get to Nakano and ended up in Nagano? She's actually pretty smart, and has no qualms about telling her embarrassing mishaps to complete strangers -- several hundred of them, in fact.

Neeta Bhushan of India was one of 18 foreign diplomats taking part in this year's "Embassy Official's Japanese Speech Contest," held Saturday at Tokyo's Kudan Kaikan as part of projects set up by the Embassies Friendship and Exchange Association.

Participants representing 16 countries, including Denmark, Cote D'Ivoire, the Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka, were each required to speak, in Japanese, for five minutes on the subject of their choice. Topics ranged from home care and Japanese greetings to "onsen" (hot springs) and bicycles.

In highlighting an example of what she termed the "culture shock illness" from which she has suffered, winner Mara Myers of the British Embassy made a thoughtful, entertaining speech on the differences in cycling culture between the U.K and Japan.

Whereas cyclists ride on the left side of the road in her home country, Japanese stick to the sidewalks, and ride on just about any side they choose, according to Myers, who arrived in Japan in August.

She also expressed surprise at the kind of things Japanese cyclists carry on their "chari": "I thought it would be the same as back home, where they carry a few shopping items, or a book . . . But I was wrong. Here I've seen . . . brave moms carrying their kids, not just one, but two, and sometimes three of them!"

After receiving her trophy and prize of a microwave oven, Myers said: "I was so nervous and thought I'd forget everything. But I didn't really think of it as a contest -- I don't think any of us did. I guess I'll have to do similar activities in my work, so I saw it as a good chance."

Taking second prize was American Alfred R. Magleby, who had to turn down his prize of a rice cooker: "I've gotta follow U.S ethics laws, so I'll just take home the trinkets."

Third and fourth prize went to Yerlan B. Kozhatayev of Kazakstan and Luis Raul Curiel Ruiz of Mexico, a Japan veteran of some 20 years.

Special awards went to Bhushan ("My Experiences in Japan") and Yozan Charles of Cote D'Ivoire, who spoke on onsen, which he described as "the place where Japanese get talkative."

The seven-judge panel, which included Lower House member Yoshiyuki Kamei, praised the participants for their thoughtful, constructive comments, and Myers for the depth of thought achieved from such a simple topic.

Sponsored by the Foreign and Education ministries, Chiyoda Ward and The Japan Times, the speech contest was inaugurated in 1998 to promote friendly relations and exchange between officials of Tokyo's embassies. Its success last year spurred the advent of the Japanese Club, whose members include officials from various embassies in Tokyo.

"I think there are few opportunities to meet such a wide variety of fellow diplomats," said Canadian Embassy official Jennifer Ledwidge. "(The contest) provides a chance for us to speak out to a wide audience, and I hope it continues."