Canon Inc. was a special cosponsor of the 1st All Japan High School English Speech Contest, organized by ZEN-EI-REN, the national federation of English education research organizations, held at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center on February 3, 2008.

This contest’s objectives were to expand the ability of high school students in Japan to express themselves in English, to increase interest in learning English and to cultivate people with a cosmopolitan outlook.

In concurrence with these aims, along with supporting the contest as a part of its educational assistance, Canon donated digital cameras and other products as supplementary prizes.