The Sixth All Japan High School English Speech Contest, organized by the National Federation of the Prefectural English Teachers’ Organizations (ZEN-EI-REN), was held at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center on February 10, 2013.

Canon has continued to be a special sponsor of this contest since its inauguration.

This contest’s objectives are 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.

Eighteen high school students, with outstanding records of achievement at the prefectural and nine regional block level competitions which were held prior to the main contest, were selected as representative contestants. This year as well, the contestants presented highly polished speeches on a variety of subjects, and the first to sixth place winners were decided as a result of rigorous screening.

In concurrence with the aims of this contest, along with supporting the contest as a part of its educational assistance program, Canon donated digital cameras to the first to third place winners as supplementary prizes.