[10/18 (Sun) held] Japanese Speech Presentation by Foreigners in Kurashiki International Exchange Plaza 2026 ~ No application required. Let's go listen to foreigners living in Okayama Prefecture talk about their work and dreams in Japanese.

In recent years, it has become common to see foreigners not only in tourist areas like the Bikan Historical Area. There are also many foreigners living nearby, but have you ever had a conversation beyond just greetings?

In Okayama Prefecture, including Kurashiki City, foreigners living here for work or study are learning Japanese in local language classes. The "Foreigners' Japanese Speech Presentation" is an event where they present the results of their learning on themes of their choice.

It will be held on October 18, 2026 (Sunday) at Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City, and no application is required for attendance. We spoke with a representative from the International Division of Kurashiki City about the background of the event and this year's highlights.

What is the "Foreigners' Japanese Speech Presentation"?

The "Foreigners' Japanese Speech Presentation" is an event that has been held since the 2025 fiscal year.
On the day of the event, it is scheduled to take place as part of the international exchange event "Kurashiki International Interaction Plaza" held at Geibunkan in Kurashiki City.

Foreigners living in Okayama Prefecture will present their experiences about life in Japan, work, hobbies, and more, using the Japanese they have been learning. Each person will give a speech of about three minutes, and the theme will be decided by the presenter.

The call for presenters has already closed, and 18 participants from Indonesia, France, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other countries are expected to present on topics such as their dreams, things that surprised them in Japan, wonderful people they met in Okayama, and work-related matters.

The audience capacity is 150 people. No application is required to participate.

Interview with a representative from the International Division of Kurashiki City

We spoke with Kuioi Akiyoshi from the International Division of Kurashiki City, who is in charge of planning the presentation.

Can you tell us about the background of the presentation?

Kuioi (no honorifics)

In various districts of Kurashiki City, volunteer organizations hold Japanese language classes. At the Tamashima Japanese Language Class, they hold learning outcome presentations within the class, but there was no presentation event for the entire city.

In this context, we received requests from other Japanese language classes asking for a venue for learners to present, which led to the first event being held in 2025 as part of the international exchange event "Kurashiki International Interaction Plaza," and this year it will be expanded.

While I believe similar events exist in other municipalities, what we consider a characteristic of Kurashiki is that it is positioned not as a contest, but as a venue for presenting learning outcomes.

We value lowering the barriers for participants to provide a platform for those who are working hard to learn Japanese while living in Japan, so they can enhance their motivation for skill improvement. This has not changed from last year to this year.

Are there any differences from last time, or points to pay attention to this year?

Kuioi

Last year, the capacity was set at 10 people, targeting those living in Kurashiki City or those studying or working in the city.

This year, to allow for broader participation, we increased the capacity to 14 people, targeting those living in Okayama Prefecture or those active in the prefecture. We are pleased to have received applications significantly exceeding the capacity, and we have increased the limit.

As a result, this time, 18 participants from Indonesia, France, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other countries will be presenting.
The themes are free, and we have received their scripts in advance. They will cover various topics such as their dreams, things that surprised them in Japan, wonderful people they met in Okayama, and work-related matters. The level of Japanese and the number of years living in Japan vary among the presenters.

From last year's presenters, we received feedback such as, "I'm glad I participated," and "It motivated my learning." Audience members also expressed that listening to the stories of people they don't often have the chance to interact with provided new insights, such as "I didn't know they had these feelings" and "I didn't realize they were working so hard."

Finally, please share a message for the readers.

Kuioi

On the day of the event, the international exchange event "Kurashiki International Interaction Plaza" will be held at Geibunkan in Kurashiki City, featuring food stalls and a world bazaar where you can enjoy global cuisine. I would be delighted if many people come to visit and enjoy the speech presentation as well.

I hope that instead of just perceiving "multicultural coexistence" as an image, people will casually come and listen to the speeches of those presenting in front of them, and feel a warm sense of connection.

For example, if there is a foreigner living nearby and you usually don't greet them, you might think, "Maybe I should try greeting them," or if you do greet them but want to have a deeper conversation, "Maybe I should try talking a bit more." I would be happy if this could be a small catalyst for such everyday changes.

From the Writer

It is no longer uncommon to see foreigners in Kurashiki.

The keyword "multicultural coexistence" has also become more frequently heard, but it is still rare to consciously think about it in everyday life. However, there are indeed foreigners living in Kurashiki City.

It can be difficult for anyone to approach someone suddenly, so it would be a valuable experience to listen to the words of foreigners living in Kurashiki at such opportunities.

On the same day, the international exchange event "Kurashiki International Interaction Plaza" will also be held.
Why not visit Geibunkan in Kurashiki City to listen to the words of foreigners living nearby?

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