Canon Inc. was a special sponsor of the Fifth 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 5, 2012. Canon has been continuing its support since the first holding of this contest.

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 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.