An Australian diplomat found modern Japanese weddings exciting and representing of the adaptability of the nation's culture, while a British participant described how much he loves "onsen" hot springs. And both did so in smooth Japanese.
The pair were two of the 23 contestants in the fourth Japanese Speech Contest 2001 for Foreign Diplomats in Tokyo that provided the audience the opportunity to learn new aspects of Japan as viewed from different viewpoints.
The participants in this year's contest, held March 17, were diplomats from embassies of 20 nations. They competed based on their command of the Japanese language by freely expressing -- some seriously and others humorously -- their unique experiences and views of Japan.