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The 49th All-Japan Junior English Speech Contest (2026) is officially open for entries!

Applications open June 1st, 2026, for elementary and junior high school students across Japan. Open to young learners from kindergarten (ages 4–5) up to Junior High School (Grade 9), the contest features two distinct divisions with proficiency tiers ranging from Level 1 (beginners) to Level 4 (advanced).

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MASTERS DIVISION: For Aspiring Speakers

Designed for students who want a deep, academic challenge. This track guides them from foundational pronunciation all the way to writing and performing an original speech. This is a recitation of pre-prepared texts in First and Second Stages followed by an original speech prepared by the student for the Final Stage.

1. First Stage (July 1 – Aug 6): App-Based Pronunciation
   • Students practice and record official set texts at home using the "MyET" app.
   • Judged on: Basic pronunciation, pitch, rhythm, and stress. You can re-record as many times as you like during this period!
2. Second Stage (Sept 14 – 17 Deadline): Video Submission
   • Qualifiers submit a recorded video of themselves delivering their assigned text.
   • Judged on: Expressiveness and emotional delivery (heavily weighted!). Evaluated by a panel of university professors and language specialists.
3. The Final (Nov 29): Original Speech!
   • Top finalists present an original English speech live in an online evaluation session.
   • Judged on: Speech organization and natural presentation (note: excessive gestures or theatrical acting may result in point deductions).
4. Award Ceremony (Dec 20): Held online, featuring screenings of the winning speeches.

▲ Masters Division Prizes (Per Level):

• Grand Prize (1 Winner): Trophy, Certificate, and a JPY50,000.
• First Prize (2 Winners): Trophy, Certificate, and a JPY30,000.
• Encouragement Award (2 Winners): Medal, Certificate, and JPY20,000.
• Fighting Spirit Award (15 Winners): Certificate and a commemorative gift.

▲ Entry Fee: JPY6,600 (Individual) / JPY3,300 (Group of 10 or more).

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CHALLENGERS DIVISION: For Confidence Builders

Perfect for students newer to public speaking or looking to build their skills. Past participants have shown incredible growth, turning a fear of public speaking into motivation and confidence. This is a recitation of pre-prepared texts in First and Second Stages.

1. First Stage (July 1 – Aug 6): Just like the Masters track, students practice and record their assigned texts on the "MyET" app.
2. Second Stage (Sept 14 – 17 Deadline): Qualifiers record and upload a video of their recitation for review by our expert panel.
3. Final Results & Screening (Dec 20): Winners are announced on YouTube with a special screening of their entries!

 ▲ Challengers Division Prizes (Per Level):

• Excellent Performance Award (2 Winners): Medal, Certificate, and JPY10,000.
• Audio Recording Award (1 Winner): Given to the student with the highest number of practice recordings in the app! It rewards pure effort and consistency. Includes a Certificate and a JPY5,000yen gift card.
• Challenge Award (13 Winners): Certificate and a commemorative gift.

▲ Entry Fee: JPY3,300 (Individual) / JPY1,650 (Group of 10 or more).

Eligibility Note: To ensure a fair playing field, students who have lived in an English-speaking country for over a year, have a native English-speaking parent, or attend international/immersion schools are not eligible to advance past the First Stage.

Read the full rules, download the official practice texts, and secure your spot here: https://stepworld.jp/speechcontest2026/

Note: The contest website is in Japanese. For any inquiries in Japanese or English, please contact us via the online form at https://stepworld.jp/speechcontest2026/contact/.