What most touched the hearts of the audience may not have been their fluency in Japanese and experiences of culture shock, but their insights into daily life summarized in a five-minute speech.
Indeed, participants in Japanese Speech Contest 2002 for Foreign Diplomats in Tokyo -- 16 diplomats from 14 countries -- drew huge applause from the audience of some 420 people during the event, held Saturday in Chiyoda Ward.
The annual event, the fifth of its kind, is cosponsored by the Foreign Ministry and the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry, with support from The Japan Times. It aims to provide a forum for diplomats in Tokyo to express themselves in Japanese and interact with local residents.