Coinciding with the first month of spring, the traditional republican Japanese Speech Contest was held online this year, despite the situation in the world.

16 participants from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakh-Japanese Center for Human Resource Development, , Ichikawa Japanese Language School took part in the 23rd speech context this year. The competition was organized by the Embassy of Japan in Kazakhstan, the Association of Japanese Language Teachers of Kazakhstan, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The competition, which has been continuing for 23 years, is a testament to the close diplomatic, friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Kazakhstan. The competition was supported by the Association of Japanese Entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan, the Japanese Association in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh-Japanese Human Resource Development Center, the University of Tsukuba in Japan, the Japanese public organization "Silk Road", Sony Electronics, Kazakhstan's limited liability company “New & Rare Resources”.

The competition was judged by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan in Kazakhstan Tatsuhiko Kasai, Chairman of the Association of Japanese Entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan Kazama Tatsuya, Deputy Chairman of the Association of Japanese in Kazakhstan Utsumi Yoshihiro and Japanese language teachers.

The main prize, a trip to Japan, was won by a third-year student of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Zhuasbai Nurshat with the theme "Obal bolady". The 2nd place was taken by Panfiliy A., a student of the Kazakh-Japanese Center for Human Resources Development in Almaty. The 3rd place was won by a student of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages - Zhumageldina A.. The 4th place – Muratkalieva A., student of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, the 5th place went to student of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Serikbekova N., the 6th place was won by Orazbayev S., student of the Kazakh-Japanese Center for Human Resources Development in Almaty. Batyrkhan Kurmanseit’s Special Prize went to the student of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages Baidibekova A. In addition to special prizes, the winners of the competition were presented with a book "Abai" published in Japanese by the Japanese public organization "Silk Road", and participants were awarded prizes prepared by the Embassy of Japan in Kazakhstan and the University of Tsukuba.